LIBRARY     , 

OF    THE ' 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Class 


Its  Cultivation,  Harvesting,   Marketing  and 

Market  Value,  with  a  Short 

Account    of  Its 

History  and 

Botany 


By  M.  G.  KAINS 


NEW  EDITION 


Revised,  Enlarged  and  Brought  Down 
to  Date 


New  York 
ORANGE    JUDD     COMPANY 

1903 


Copyright  1899 

BY 

ORANGE  JUDD  COMPANY 


Copyright  1902 

BY 
ORANGE  JUDD  COMPANY 


GENERAL 


PREFACE. 


During  recent  years,  the  news  has  been  spread  far 
and  wide  by  the  press  that  the  consumption  of  ginseng 
in  China  is  enormous ;  that  our  native  forest  supply  is 
rapidly  decreasing ;  that  the  price  paid  by  our  dealers  is 
steadily  advancing;  that  the  plant  can  be  cultivated, 
and  that  there  is  a  considerable  margin  of  profit  in  grow- 
ing it.  As  a  result,  the  agricultural  papers,  the  Exper- 
iment Stations  and  the  Department  of  Agriculture  have 
been  besieged  with  questions  bearing  upon  all  phases  of 
ginseng  cultivation,  and  many  useful  articles  in  addition 
to  three  bulletins  have  been  prepared  upon  the  subject. 
But,  since  the  former,  in  addition  to  being  too  brief  to 
be  more  than  outlines  or  introductions,  are  unavailable 
to  the  majority  of  would-be  cultivators,  and  since  the 
latter  contain  much  that  does  not  interest  the  novice, 
the  writer  has  prepared  the  following  pages  to  be  used 
as  a  practical  working  manual  in  the  growing  of 
this  crop. 

In  its  preparation,  use  has  been  made  of  some  of  the 
articles  contained  in  -agricultural  journals,  the  United 
States  Consular  Reports,  the  bulletins  published  by  the 
Pennsylvania  Department  of  Agriculture  and  the  Exper- 
iment Station  of  Kentucky.  But  the  author  has  relied 
mainly  upon  his  report  to  the  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  which  was  prepared  for  the  Divi- 
sion of  Botany  in  the  summer  of  1897  and  published  as 
the  revised  edition  of  Bulletin  No.  16  of  tfhat  division, 
the  original  issue  and  its  reprints  having  been  exhausted. 

iii 

1*1  i&lT 


IV  THE   GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

In  that  pamphlet  was  contained  all  that  was  then  known 
to  be  of  value  in  the  cultivation  of  ginseng,  and  it  was 
favorably  received  by  cultivators  of  this  root  throughout 
the  land.  In  the  present  treatise,  the  experience  gained 
by  many  growers  during  two  more  seasons  of  experiment 
and  observation  has  been  added  and  the  book  thus 
brought  up  to  date. 

The  information  here  presented  has,  therefore,  been 
gathered  from  many  reliable  sources  and  is  thus  really 
the  work  of  several  authors,  for  whom  the  writer  has 
acted  in  the  capacity  of  secretary.  Amo:ig  many  to 
whom  thanks  for  valuable  assistance  are  due — a  list  too 
long  to  give  each  separate  mention — special  notice  must 
be  given  to  the  Division  of  Botany,  United  States 
Department  of  Agriculture,  the  Pennsylvania  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  and  the  Experiment  Station  of 
Kentucky  for  the  use  of  several  illustrations  throughout 
the  book,  and  to  Messrs.  Samuel  Wells  and  Co.,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  for  helpful  letters  concerning  markets. 

M.  G.  KAINS. 


PREFACE 

TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


Since  the  appearance  of  the  first  edition  of  this 
book,  which  is  now  designated  Part  One,  ginseng 
growing  has  made  such  rapid  strides  and  the  demand 
for  information  has  increased  so  greatly  that  a  second 
and  extended  edition  has  become  necessary.  The 
information  contained  in  the  present  volume,  which  is 
nearly  three  times  as  large  as  the  first,  has  been  culled 
from  a  large  mass  of  material  and  is  deemed  to  be 
the  best  that  has  appeared  since  ginseng  culture  first 
attracted  attention  in  America.  As  in  the  first  edition, 
the  author,  who  wishes  to  be  considered  merely  a 
compiler,  has  endeavored  to  present  the  ideas  and 
experience  of  others  without  forcing  his  own  views 
upon  the  reader.  It  will  be  noticed,  however,  that  he 
has  stated  his  opinions  upon  certain  points  and  has 
striven  to  make  clear  others  that  seemed  to  need 
explanation.  He  wishes  hereby  to  thank  all  who  have 
given  him  help,  especially  those  whose  names  appear 
in  the  text.  He  also  wishes  to  apologize  to  nearly  a 
thousand  readers  who  have  been  compelled  to  wait 
for  the  appearance  of  this  book. 

The  particular  attention  of  the  would-be  investor 
in  ginseng  culture  is  called  to  the  section  in  Part  Two 
on  "Profits."  A  decline  in  price  and  a  more  healthy 
market  seem  to  be  assured,  a  consummation  that  will 
result  in  the  abandonment  of  speculation  and  the 
establishment  of  ginseng  growing  in  America  upon  a 


VI  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 

firm  commercial  instead  of  the  present  uncertain  nur- 
sery basis.  Accompanying  and  fostering  this  develop- 
ment, however,  must  be  a  rational  application  of  energy 
to  the  industry,  especially  to  the  improvement  of  the 
root,  which  under  present  methods  would  be  doomed 
to  deterioration  because  the  forced  seed  production, 
now  occupying  general  attention,  is  at  the  expense  of 
root  development. 

Finally,  ginseng  culture  will  grow  in  proportion 
to  the  application  of  intelligence  to  it.  The  grower 
should  always  strive  to  be  bigger  than  his  business,  a 
fact  which,  simply  because  he  is  in  it,  seems  to  be 
evident.  That  is,  the  reason  he  is  in  it  seems  to  prove 
him  to  be  progressive  and  to  keep  himself  abreast  of 
the  times.  He  should  endeavor  to  maintain  this  state 
by  reading  and  discussing  all  matters  pertaining  to 
farm  life,  because  much  that  may  appear  to  bear  nc 
apparent  direct  connection  with  ginseng,  for  instance 
improved  marketing  methods  in  general,  will  be 
found  helpful  in  dealing  with  problems  that  arise  in 
the  business  of  growing  and  selling  this  root. 

M.  G.  KAINS. 
New  York  City,  November,  1902. 


CONTENTS. 


History I 

$?A    Botany  of  the  Plant        .        .        -....'.        .        .  5,  55 

Natural  Home  of  the  Plant 14 

How  to  Begin          .        .        . 14,  58 

Starting  with  Wild  Roots    ......  14 

Starting  with  Seed        .        ....        .        .        .  16 

Climate  and  Location      .        .                .        „        .        .  18 

Soil    :';,_.:;      .      .     ...      .      .      .      .  19, 59 

Preparation  of  the  Beds 21 

Preparation  of  Permanent  Beds 25,  62 

Planting  the  Seed             .    > 26 

Treatment  of  Seedlings    .        .        t        .        .        .        .  28,  62 

Treatment  of  Permanent  Beds        .        .        .        .        .  30 

Artificial    Propagation       .        .        ...        .        .  30,  65 

Protection   of  Beds           ...        ...        .        .         .  31 

Manuring            ..........  32,  65 

Shades  and  Shading         .        .  •  .  .        .        .        .        .  33 

Enemies              .        .        .                .        .        .        .        .  36,  66 

Selection  for  Improvement      .        .        . ..      ...  37,  69 

Cultivated  Versus  Wild  Root        .        .        .        .       ..  40,  72 

Preparation  for  Market    .        .        .,        .        .  41 

Profits         . 46,  77 

Clarification        ,        .    .    .      ...        .        .        .        .  75 

Adulteration  and   Fraud          .        .    '    .        .        .        .  88 

The  Asiatic  Ginseng  Industry  and  Market    .        .        .  94 

Letters    from   Growers     .        .                .        ...  106 

Medicinal    Properties        .        .        .        ,.       »        «        .  130 

Protection  by  Law           .       .       .       .      -.       .       ,  136 


- 


Vll 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Fig.  Page 

1.  Human  Form  of  Root 2 

2.  American  Ginseng  Plant 4 

3.  Yearling  Plant  and  Two- Year-Old  Root    ...        6 

4.  Stems,  Leaves  and  Flower  Cluster    ....        7 

5.  Fruit  Cluster   on   Plant n 

6.  Three  and  Four-Year-Old  Root          .        .        .        .11 

7.  Divisible    Root 12 

8.  Stanton's    Forest    Seed   Bed        .        .        .        .        .22 

9.  Garden  Plantation  with  Lattice  Shed        ...       24 

10.  Weeding  Horse 26 

n.  Handy  Marker .27 

12.  Lath  Screen  for  Shade          ......      35 

13.  Irregular  Roots 38 

14.  Dried    Root 45 

15.  Map  Showing  Natural  Range 56 

16.  Kelsey's   Lath    Shade 63 

17.  Kelsey's    Planting    Board 64 

18.  Korean  Ginseng 108 

19.  Parent's  Ginseng  Garden 112 

20.  Nusbaum's   Ginseng  Garden 114 

21.  Bates'  Ginseng  Garden  (exterior)       .        .        .        .119 

22.  Bates'   Ginseng  Garden    (interior)       ....     122 

23.  Kelsey's  Ginseng  Garden      .        .        ...        .     124 

24.  Hart's  Ginseng  Garden       ...       .       .       .    137 


ix 


PART  ONE. 


THE  GINSENG  INDUSTRY. 


THE  GINSENG  INDUSTRY. 


HISTORY. 

In  discussing  the  cultivation  of  a  well-known  crop, 
such  as  the  apple,  or  the  onion,  an  author  need  mention 
nothing  as  to  its  history.  The  great  majority  of  readers 
are  not  interested  in  such  matters,  and  will  skip  over  to 
the  more  practical  parts  which  deal  with  cultural  direc- 
tions, yield  and  profits.  But  in  writing  of  a  new  crop, 
especially  one  that  can  never  become  a  staple,  it  is  nec- 
essary that  the  reader  should  know  something  of  its 
development,  in  order  to  judge  of  its  advancement  and 
the  probable  limits  of  the  market.  He  will  then  be  in  a 
good  position  to  judge  whether  or  not  to  start  for  him- 
self. The  following  brief  introductory  paragraphs, 
therefore,  are  inserted  to  show  the  development  of  trade 
in  American  ginseng  from  its  earliest  stage  to  its  present 
position  of  commercial  importance. 

^Chinese  ginseng,  to  which  American  ginseng  is 
closely  related,  has  been  to  the  Chinese  of  vastly  more 
importance  than  quinine  has  been  to  the  nations  of 
more  progressive  ideas.  Unlike  quinine,  however,  which 
is  prescribed  for  a  limited  number  of  ailments,  ginseng 
is  considered  a  sovereign  remedy  for  almost  every  malady 
that  human  flesh  is  heir  to,  from  indigestion  to  con- 
sumption, and  is  believed  to  insure  immunity  from  all 
kinds  of  disease.  There  is  still  a  more  remarkable 
belief  in  the  properties  of  this  plant.  It  is  thought  that 
certain  specimens,  like  the  one  represented  in  Fig.  1, 
which  bear  a  somewhat  close  resemblance  to  the  human 


2  THE    GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

form,  are  specially  useful  in  certain  ailments.  For 
instance,  the  leg-like  parts  are  particularly  valuable  for 
leg  troubles ;  the  arm-like  portions  for  affections  of  the 
arm,  and  so  on.  Whole  roots  of  this  form  are  believed 
to  be  capable  of  prolonging  life  itself,  and  are  conse- 
quently very  highly  valued ;  in  fact,  cannot  be  pur- 
chased for  less  than  their  weight  in  gold.  Truly,  the 
plant  is  well  named  panax — a  panacea.  It  is,  however, 
not  dependent  wholly  upon  superstition  for  its  power, 
but  is  possessed  of  medicinal  qualities,  more  highly  prized 

in  it  by  the  Chinese  than  by 
us,  since  we  have  a  number  of 
drugs  that  we  use  in  prefer- 
ence. By  us  ginseng  is  rec- 
ognized as  possessing  slightly 
stimulating  and  mildly  aro-  . 
matic  qualities,  as  well  as  de- 
mulcent, alterative,  carmina- 
tive and  tonic  properties.  It 
is  probable  that  these  we're 
discovered  by  the  Chinese  be- 
fore the  qualities  of  more  val- 
uable drugs  of  the  same  class 
were  discovered,  and  that  the 

FIG.  1.     HUMAN    FORM   OF    ROOT.  maiL1     r6aSOI1S     f°r     its     P^Sent 

popularity  in   China   are   the 

conservative  ideas  of  the  Chinese  and  their  belief  in 
supernatural  affairs,  which,  coupled  together,  exalt  the 
merits  of  the  plant  unduly.  In  America,  the  root  is 
seldom  used  except  as  a  demulcent,  and  even  for  this 
purpose  we  have  other  drugs  that  are  more  popular. 

The  reverence  in  which   the  plant  is  held,  and  the 
high  price  that  it  commands  in  the  open   markets  of 
China,  of  course  led  to  untiring  search  for  a  substitute^ 
not  only  in  adjoining  countries,  but  in  remote  parts  of 
the  world.     Roots  were,  and  still  are,  found  in  Japan 


HISTOKY.  3 

and  Korea  that  so  closely  resemble  ginseng  in  appear- 
ance that  even  experts  find  difficulty  in  detecting  them 
when  mixed  with  the  true  root.  These  roots,  however, 
have' no  value,  and  are  appreciated  only  by  the  unprin- 
cipled men  who  use  them  as  adulterants  of  true  ginseng, 
or  as  substitutes  therefor. 

Search  in  America,  however,  resulted  more  favor- 
ably. A  plant  (Panax  qmnquefolium) ,  Fig.  2,  was 
found  that  not  only  resembles  the  Chinese  root  (P. 
ginseng)  in  appearance,  but  possesses  its  medicinal 
qualities.  In  1714  Father  Jartoux,  a  missionary  among 
the  Chinese,  published  "A  Description  of  a  Tartarian 
Plant  called  Gin-seng"  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions 
of  the  Eoyal  Society  of  London,  a  copy  of  which  shortly 
afterward  came  under  the  eye  of  Father  Lafitau,  a  mis- 
sionary among  the  Iroqnois  Indians  in  Quebec.  Believ- 
ing that  there  might  be  such  a  plant  growing  in  the 
Canadian  forests,  Lafitau  made  diligent  inquiry  and 
untiring  search  for  it,  and  after  about  two  years  his 
efforts  were  successful.  In  1716  the  plant  now  known 
as  American  ginseng  was  found  near  Montreal. 

Koots  were  gathered  and  dried  by  the  Indians  and 
sent  to  China,  where  they  were  so  well  received  that  a 
considerable  trade  in  ginseng  sprang  up.  The  roots 
'were  purchased  from  the  collectors  at  about  thirty-five 
cents  a  pound,  and  were  often  sold  in  China  for  ten  or 
twelve  times  that  amount.  At  that  time  all  the  trading 
in  thisxoot  was  done  by  the  officers  and  crew  of  a  French 
trading  organization,  the  "  Company  of  the  Indies." 
When,  however,  the  directors  of  the  company  discovered 
that  there  was  a  wide  margin  of  profit  to  be  made  upon 
this  root,  they  assumed  control  of  the  industry  and  pro- 
hibited the  private  ventures  of  their  employes.  This 
move  had  a  marked  effect  upon  the  price,  which  quickly 
rose  to  more  than  five  dollars  a  pound.  Good  prices 
such  as  these  might  possibly  have  been  maintained  had 


THE  GINSENG  INDUSTRY. 


FIG.  2.    AMERICAN  GINSENG. 


HISTORY.  5 

, 

it  not  been  for  an  excessive  demand  made  in  1752,  as  a 
result  of  which  an  immense  quantity  of  root  was  dug 
out  of  season  and  improperly  dried  in  ovens.  Upon  its 
arrival  in  China  it  was  found  to  be  so  inferior  that  the 
dealers  refused  to  accept  it.j  In  a  single  year  the  trade 
dropped  from  about  $100,000  to  $6,500,  and  in  a  few 
years  more  ceased  entirely.  The  Chinese  faith  in  the 
Canadian  article  was  so  severely  shaken  that  the  stand- 
ing of  the  American  root  also  suffered,  an  effect  that  it 
has  taken  more  than  a  century  to  overcome. 

During  these  years,  and  particularly  those  following 
the  event  just  recorded,  the  New  England  states,  and 
later  the  sister  states  as  far  west  as  the  borders  of  the 
Mississippi,  profiting  from  the  ill-luck  of  their  northern 
neighbor,  increased  their  trade  until,  in  1858,  more 
than  350,000  pounds  were  exported,  but  at  the  low  aver- 
age figure  of  52  cents  a  pound.  Since  that  year  the 
quantity  of  root  exported  has  decreased,  but  the  price 
has  improved.  In  1897  the  price  per  pound  reached  its 
highest  average,  $4.71,  slightly  more  than  nine  times 
the  price  in  1858.  This  steady  increase  is  a  hopeful 
sign  that  confidence  is  being  restored,  and  forms  one  of 
the  strongest  arguments  in  favor  of  the  cultivation  of 
the  root  in  this  country.  Further  data  upon  this  topic 
may  be  found  under  the  heading,  "Profits." 

BOTANY   OF    THE    PLANT. 

American  ginseng  (Panax  quinquefoUum,  L.)  is  a 
member  of  the  natural  order  Araliacem,  which  is  allied  ^> 
to  the  Parsley  family.  The  plant,  when  old  enough  to 
bear  seed,  is  easily  recognized,  and,  especially  when  in 
fruit,  is  somewhat  conspicuous ;  but  during  the  first 
two  or  three  years  it  is  not  particularly  prominent.  The 
seedlings  appear,  in  New  York  state,  about  the  first  of 
May,  sometimes  a  week  or  so  earlier.  They  at  first  look 
something  like  newly  sprouted  beans,  in  having  two 


THE  GLNSENG  INDUSTRY. 


FIG.  3. 

Yearling  ginseng  plant  in  July;    b,  yearling  root  in  October; 
c,  two-year-old  root, 


BOTASTY   OF  THE   PLANT. 


seed  leaves  (cotyledons),  between  which  is  a  little  stem 
and  one,  two  or  three  tiny  leaves.  These  are  the  only 
leaves  borne  by  the  plant  the  first  year,  and  they  seldom 
rise  more  than  a  couple  of  inches  above  the  ground. 


FIG.  4.     STEM,  LEAVES  AND    FLOWER  CLUSTER. 

They  are  usually  fully  developed  in  four  or  five  weeks 
from  the  first  appearance  of  the  plant  above  ground,  and 
this  is  true  of  older  plants  as  well.  Fig.  3,  a,  represents  a 


THE   GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

yearling  plant  when  full  grown  as  it  is  seen  in  July,  and 
b,  a  root  as  it  appears  in  October.  The  whole  work  of 
the  plant  the  first  two,  three,  or  even  more,  seasons,  is 
to  develop  the  solitary  bud  that  is  to  produce  the  leases 
and  stem,  of  the  following  year.  This  bud  is  borne  at 
the  crown,  of  the  root,  and  is  called  by  the  Chinese  the 
"head."  When  growth  ceases,  the  stem  breaks  off 
beside  the  bud,  leaving  a  scar  that  is  always  retainedo 
Fig.  3,  c,  shows  the  bud  and  the  scar  on  a  two-year-old 
root  as  it  appears  in  October. 

During  the  second  year  the  plant  may  produce  from 
one  to  three  branch-like  stems  with  from  three  to  eight 
leaflets,  and  may  reach  a  hight  of  five  inches.  In  the 
third  year  from  eight  to  fifteen  leaflets  may  be  produced, 
and  the  plant  may  grow  eight  inches  tall.  In  after 
years  there  may  be  as  many  as  four  leafstalks.  ea6h 
bearing  usually  five  leaflets — sometimes  three  or  seven — r 
arranged,  as  in  the  horse-chestnut  leaf,  like  the  fingers 
of  the  hand,  as  seen  in  Fig.  4. 

The  two  smallest  leaflets  are  an  inch  or  two  long, 
the  others  three  or  four.  In  outline  they  are  egg-shaped> 
with  a  saw-toothed  margin  and  an  abrupt  point.  The 
large  end  is  away  from  the  stem.  In  cultivated  beds 
specimens  with  five  leafstalks  and  twenty-five  or  thirty 
leaves  may  be  found,  and  they  may  reach  a  hight  of 
thir,ty  inches,  though  twenty  is  as  tall  as  they  usually 
get  in  the  woods.  The  stems  of  mature  plants  are  gen- 
erally about  the  thickness  of  a  lead  pencil. 

The  flower  stalk,  which  is  usually  from  two  to  eight 
inches  long,  according  to  the  strength  of  the  plant,  is 
borne  erect  at  the  point  where  the  leafstalks  branch  out 
(Fig.  4),  and  bears  in  late  June  or  in  early  July  a 
cluster  of  inconspicuous,  odorless  yellowish-green  flowers 
arranged  in  an  umbel  somewhat  like  the  flowers  of  pars- 
ley or  carrots.  The  fruit  h  soon  formed,  and  develops 
from  green  in  August  to  a  handsome  scarlet  in  the  mid- 


BOTANY  OF  THE   PLANT. 


9 


die  of  September,  when  it  reaches  full  maturity.  The 
berries,  which  are  edible,  have  the  taste  of  the  root,  and 
are  about  the  size  of  small  wax  beans  (Fig.  5).  They 
contain  from  one  to  three  seeds,  usually  two.  Seeds  are 
produced  by  plants  three  years  old  and  upward,  though 


FIG.  5.  FKUIT  CLUSTER  ON  PLANT. 

a,  Berry;  b,  seed,  natural  size. 

occasionally  an  unusually  strong  plant  may  produce 
seed  the  second  year.  In  the  cultivated  plots  the  pro- 
duction of  seed  is  generally  much  greater  than  in  the 
forest,  from  forty  to  sixty  being  commonly  found, 


10  THE  GINSENG  INDUSTKY. 

though  one  hundred  or  more  may  often  be  borne  upon  a 
single  head.  Plants  with  several  stems  may  have  a 
cluster  of  fruit  upon  each  stem,  though  these  will  usu- 
ally be  smaller  than  upon  plants  of  the  same  age  where 
only  one  stem  appears.  In  the  woods  the  plants  seldom 
bear  more  than  fifty  seeds,  and  usually  not  more  than 
half  that  many. 

The  root,  which  is  the  part  of  commercial  impor- 
tance, is  composed  of  two  parts — the  rootstock  and  the 
root  proper.  The  former,  rarely  more  than  one-third  of 
an  inch  in  diameter,  shows  the  scars,  already  mentioned, 
each  one  of  which  indicates  a  year's  growth.  Specimens 
have  occasionally  been  collected  that  were  over  fifty 
years  old,  and  one  has  been  found  that  has  reached  the 
age  of  sixty-five.  Size  and  value  do  not,  however, 
increase,  but  diminish  with  age  after  a  certain  stage  in 
the  development  of  the  plant  has  been  reached.  The 
power  of  producing  seed  is  also  lost  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent.  The  old  specimen-  referred  to  was  very  much 
shriveled,  weighed  less  than  half  an  ounce,  and  was 
scarcely  more  than  one-third  of  an  inch  thick. 

J  As  a  general  thing,  when  the  roots  have  attained  a 
certain  age  they  gradually  decrease  in  size  and  weight 
year  by  year,  and  at  the  same  time  lose  their  medicinal 
qualities.  They  continue  to  shrink  until  they  become 
mere  bundles  of  woody  fibers,  shadows  of  their  for- 
mer selves.  They  may,  however,  take  new  courage 
and  send  out  new  roots  near  the  crowns,  which,  as  the 
original  roots  become  more  and  more  feeble,  gradually 
take  their  places  and  do  their  work.  "When  this  is 
accomplished  the  old  roots  die  and  slough  off.  This  is 
not  a  form  of  reproduction,  but  of  the  continuation  of 
the  life  of  a  single  plant.  Young  roots  may  often  reach 
a  weight  of  two  or  three  ounces  after  drying,  and  a 
diameter  of  one  and  a  half  inches.  Some  specimens 
have  been  gathered  that  weighed  half  a  pound,  but  these 


BOTANY   OF  THE   PLANT. 


11 


are  now  rare,  the  constant  search  for  the  plants  tending 
to  prevent  their  full  development.  Such  sizes  and 
weights  are,  however,  possible  in  cultivated  beds. 


FIG.  6.     THREE  AND  FOUR  YEAR  OLD  ROOTS. 

a,  Bud ;  b,  scar. 

When  young,  the  root  is  shaped  and  colored  like  a 
little  parsnip,  but  usually  becomes  more  or  less  forked 
and  darker  in  color  as  it  grows  older.  Its  size  is  largely 
governed  by  the  supply  of  food,  exposure  and  other  con- 


12  THE  GIKSEtfG   INDUSTRY. 

ditions  influencing  its  growth.  When  one  year  old  it  is 
usually  about  an  eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and 
about  an  inch  when  five  or  six ;  and  after  the  first  year 
or  so,  it  is  plainly  marked  with  wrinkles  running  part,  or 
even  all,  the  way  round  it.  Roots  of  three  and  four 
years  of  age  are  represented  in  Fig.  6. 

Ginseng  reproduces  itself  naturally  by  seed  only. 
When  cultivated,  and  occasionally  even  in  the  forest, 


FIG.  7.     DIVISIBLE   ROOT. 

plants  may  be  found  that  bear  from  two  to  four  stem 
roots,  like  the  one  shown  in  Fig.  7,  which  spring  from 
near  the  base  of  the  rootstock  at  the  crown.  These,  if 
carefully  removed,  may  be  made  to  produce  as  good 
roots  as  if  grown  direct  from  seed.  In  this  particular 
case  three  plants  could  be  obtained  from  this  one  root. 
An  advantage  that  they  possess  is  that  they  will  attain 
a  marketable  size  and  produce  seed  sooner  than  seed- 


BOTANY  OF  THE   PLAHT.  13 

lings.  It  seems  possible,  too,  that  the  rootstocks  might 
be  made  to  produce  roots  in  the  same  manner  as  ordi- 
nary cuttings.  This,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  has  not 
yet  hgen  done. 

•From  what  has  been  said,  it  is  clear  that  ginseng 
must  not  be  dug  in  the  summer,  because  if  the  roots  be 
harvested  before  the  seed  is  ripe  the  latter  will  be  lost. 
In  the  forest  this  is  actually  taking  place,  and  is  the 
principal  reason  why  the  price  of  ginseng  is  rising  year 
by  year;  the  pasturing  of  stock  in  the  woods  and  the 
destruction  of  the  forests  by  widening  agriculture  or  by 
fire  being  the  only  other  important  influences  toward 
its  extermination. 

The  dealers  claim  that  they  are  still  able  to  obtain 
the  root  in  nearly  the  same  quantity  as  formerly,  but 
they  say  that  it  is  coming  from  places  more  remote  each 
year.  The  latter  statement  is  certainly  true,  but  a 
glance  at  the  export  figures,  given  under  the  heading, 
"Profits,"  will  show  that  the  former  is  probably  over- 
estimated, because  the  quantity  sent  abroad  is  decreasing 
year  by  year. 

The  principal  agents  in  the  extermination  of  the 
native  supply  are  the  ginseng  hunters,  "  sang-diggers " 
they  are  called.  They  exercise  no  judgment  whatever 
in  collecting.  They  take  even  the  tiniest  roots  when- 
ever they  see  them,  whether  in  April,  June  or  Novem- 
ber, and  the  plants  are  thus  given  no  chance  to  reproduce 
themselves.  It  is  of  little  consequence  to  these  shiftless 
people  to  be  arrested  and  jailed  according  to  the  laws  of 
the  two  Virginias  and  of  Ontario.  They  take  the  matter 
coolly  and  live  at%the  expense  of  the  state  until  the  end 
of  their  sentence,  and  go  back  to  dig  as  before.  When 
the  plant  is  cultivated  it  will  be  to  the  grower's  interest 
to  dig  at  the  proper  season,  and  to  prevent,  as  much  as 
possible,  the  digging  of  the  wild  root  in  his  locality  dur- 
ing the  spring  and  summer. 


14  THE  GINSENG  INDUSTRi. 

There  is,  however,  a  more  important  reason  for  dig- 
ging the  root  after  the  ripening  of  the  seed.  During 
the  summer  the  plant  is  expending  its  energies  in  growth 
and  the  perfection  of  its  seed.  As  a  consequence,  the 
root  is  in  poor  condition,  and  is  thus  unfit  for  the  uses 
to  which  it  is  put.  But  in  the  fall,  when  the  seed  has 
been  matured  and  the  plant  has  stored  food  with  which 
to  commence  the  following  year,  the  root  is  in  its  best 
condition,  being  not  only  firmer  and  heavier  from  the 
stored  nutriment,  and  thus  liable  to  less  shrinkage  in 
drying,  but  it  is  more  valuable  as  a  drug.  A  given 
weight  of  green  roots  will  realize  more  when  dug  in 
season  and  properly  dried  than  when  gathered  in  the 
summer. 

NATURAL   HOME   OF   THE   PLANT. 

Ginseng  may  be  found  growing  wild  as  far  west  as 
the  first  tier  of  states  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  from 
Canada  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  In  the  warm  south,  it 
confines  itself  to  the  mountains  and  other  high  ground 
where  the  temperature  is  relatively  low ;  in  the  north,  it 
descends  to  the  low  lands.  It  delights  in  the  rich, 
moist,  but  well  drained  soil  from  which  our  oak,  maple, 
beech  and  basswood  forests  spring,  but  not  in  the  wet 
and  muddy  soils  that  support  the  tamarack  and  the 
cedar.  Forest  soils  in  which  there  is  a  wealth  of  leaf 
mold,  and  that  are  fairly  light  in  texture,  are  most  favor- 
able to  the  growth  of  this  plant.  It  is  almost  never 
found  in  open  ground  and  soon  perishes  in  clearings,  but 
thrives  in  the  half  shade  afforded  by  hardwood  forests 
where  the  undergrowth  is  scant. 

HOW  TO  BEGIN — STARTING   WITH  WILD    ROOTS. 

The  easiest  way  to  commence  ginseng  cultivation  is 
to  collect  plants  in  the  neighborhood  and  to  transplant 
them.  Dig  them  either  early  in  the  spring  just  as  the 
new  growth  begins  to  appear,  or  in  the  autumn,  when 


HOW  TO    BEGIK.  15 

the  tops  are  dying  or  have  died  down.  It  is  hard  to  col- 
lect the  plants  in  the  spring,  because  they  look  so  much 
like  other  plants  as  they  are  coming  through  the  ground 
that  it  is  hard  to  distinguish  them,  and  it  is  difficult  to 
remove  them  at  this  season  without  injury  to  the  small 
rootlets  that  have  been  produced  before  the  leaves 
appear.  It  is  better  to  transplant  wild  plants  in  the 
fall,  when  the  roots  are  ready  for  a  rest  and  are  not 
nearly  so  likely  to  be  injured,  besides  being  much  more 
easily  found.  It  is  better  to  transplant  autumn-gathered 
plants  at  once  than  to  keep  them  until  spring,  although 
this  may  be  done  without  trouble  or  fear  of  greater  loss 
than  when  set  in  the  fall.  In  storing,  plunge  the  roots 
in  damp,  not  moist  or  wet,  earth  in  a  cool  place  where 
they  cannot  dry  out. 

An  easy  way  to  get  a  large  number  of  roots  in  a 
small  space,  and  without  danger  of  injuring  them,  is  to 
stand  an  open  box, — a  soap  box  is  a  handy  size, — upon 
end  and  tilt  it  slightly  back  by  putting  a  brick  under 
the  front.  Put  in  a  layer  of  fine  earth  an  inch  or  so 
deep  at  the  end,  and  lay  a  row  of  roots  upon  it  so  that 
they  do  not  touch  each  other.  Cover  these  with  earth 
and  put  in  the  next  layer  of  roots ;  so  on  until  the  box 
is  full.  Always  take  care  to  prevent  the  roots  from 
touching  one  another,  as  contact  will  hasten  the  spread- 
ing from  plant  to  plant  of  any  decay  that  may  commence. 
When  full,  set  the  box  upon  its  bottom,  and  fill  in  any 
looseness  in  the  packing  by  adding  more  soil.  When 
finished,  the  roots  will  be  in  their  natural  position. 
Store  in  a  root  cellar,  separate  from  the  dwelling,  if  pos- 
sible, although  a  house  cellar  will  do  if  it  is  not  too 
warm.  If  the  roots  become  dry  they  will  not  grow.  If 
stored  in  a  cool,  moist  place,  such  as  a  root  cellar  or  pit, 
do  not  water  them,  as  this  might  induce  rot.  Do  not 
let  them  freeze,  for  though  they  will  stand  a  low  tem- 
perature when  properly  protected  in  the  forest,  they  are 


16  THE   GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

more  tender  when  under  unnatural  conditions  such  as 
would  prevail  in  the  box. 

If  collected  in  the  spring,  set  the  plants  in  the  bed 
at  once ;  or  if  they  must  be  kept  out  of  the  ground  for  a 
few  hours,  keep  them  carefully  covered  with  damp  soil, 
to  prevent  any  possible  injury  to  the  tender  rootlets. 
The  easiest  way  to  dig  the  plants,  when  growing  in  the 
woods,  is  to  use  a  small  spade,  thrusting  it  straight 
down  at  a  distance  of  four  or  five  inches  from  the  plant 
and  to  the  full  depth  of  the  blade.  If  closer  or  shallower 
than  this  there  is  danger  of  breaking  the  roots,  and  thus 
ruining  them.  A  trowel,  though  useful  for  transplant- 
ing the  more  evenly  developed  cultivated  roots,  is  not  a 
good  tool  to  use  in  the  woods,  because  of  the  possible 
presence  of  other  roots,  stones  and  pieces  of  wood  that 
might  interfere  with  the  removal  of  the  root.  In  the 
cultivated  beds,  however,  these  objections  are  overcome, 
and  the  trowel  may  be  used  to  advantage  in  transplanting 
the  seedlings. 

Always  take  the  greatest  care  to  preserve  the  bud 
at  the  crown  of  the  root.  If  destroyed,  there  will  be 
more  or  less  loss  of  time,  if  not  of  the  plants  themselves. 

STARTING   WITH   SEED. 

When  collecting  roots,  be  sure  to  also  collect  all 
seed.  Either  sow  it  at  once  in  a  previously  prepared 
bed,  or  store  it.  Each  method  has  advantages  and  dis- 
advantages. The  only  advantage  in  planting  at  once  is 
that  the  seed  is  permanently  disposed  of.  The  disad- 
vantages are  that  since  eighteen  months  must  elapse 
before  the  seed  can  be  made  to  sprout,  there  is  much 
risk  that  the  seed  bed  may  become  dry,  and  the  seed 
thus  be  rendered  worthless ;  the  seed  bed  must  also  be 
attended  to,  mulched,  shaded,  weeded,  and  protected 
from  chickens,  mice  and  other  nuisances.  Then  there 
is  much  more  anxiety  when  the  seed  is  thus  handled 


STARTING   WITH    SEED.  17 

than  when  it  is  stored.  If,  however,  it  be  stored,  the 
danger  of  drying  can  be  reduced  to  a  minimum,  and  the 
trouble  in  connection  with  the  bed  be  all  avoided. 

If  possible,  gather  the  seed  while  the  pulp  is  still 
soft,  after  it  is  fully  ripe  and  before  it  becomes  dry. 
Do  not,  however,  throw  away  any  that  has  become  dry 
in  this  way,  as  it  may  still  be  of  use.  Do  not  remove? 
the  pulp,  but  store  it  wi  th  the  seeds  intact. 

The  best  way  to  store  the  seed  is  to  stratify  it. 
Make  a  mixture  of  leaf  mold,  sand  and  loam  and  pass  it 
through  a  fine  sieve,  finer  than  the  size  of  the  seed  with 
the  pulp  off.  If  not  sifted,  great  difficulty  wi]  1  be  expe- 
rienced in  removing  the  seeds  from  the  mixture  when 
the  time  conies  for  planting.  A  mixture  made  in  this 
way  and  sifted  will  be  slower  to  dry  out  than  most 
unmixed  soils,  and  will  therefore  be  better  as  a  storage 
material.  Put  a  layer  half  an  inch  deep  smoothly  upon 
the  bottom  of  a  box  and  scatter  the  berries  thickly  but 
only  one  deep  upon  it.  Put  in  another  half  inch  of 
earth,  then  a  second  layer  of  berries,  and  so  continue 
until  the  box  is  full.  A  deep  cigar  box  will  hold  several 
ounces  of  seed  and  is  a  handy  size  to  use,  although  a 
stronger  box  will  generally  be  better,  particularly  where 
it  is  to  be  much  exposed  to  the  weather. 

When  packed,  either  store  the  box  in  a  cellar,  as 
described  for  ginseng  roots,  or  bury  it  in  some  place 
that  will  not  become  wet  but  will  always  be  moist 
enough  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  drying  out  in  the 
summer.  Since  frost  does  not  injure  the  seeds,  but 
rather  improves  their  germinating  qualities,  it  will  be 
better  to  put  the  box  out  of  doors  than  in  the  cellar. 
During  the  summer  it  will  always  be  best  to  bury  the 
seed,  to  escape  the  molds  that  are  commonly  present  in 
cellars.  Care  must  also  be  taken  to  prevent  the  attacks 
of  mice  upon  the  seeds.  A  covering  of  perforated  tin 
or  of  wire  netting  will  effect  this  and  will  not  hinder 
2 


18  THE   GINSENG  INDUSTRY. 

the  entrance  of  rain  or  other  water.  The  soil  and  the 
seeds  must  not  be  allowed  to  become  too  wet,  since  the 
latter  may  rot. 

When  the  seeds  have  been  stored  a  year,  sift  them 
out,  as  described  below.  As  some  few  of  the  smaller 
o^es  may  pass  through  the  sieve,  the  earth  in  which 
they  have  been  stored  should  be  scattered  over  the  seed 
bed  in  order  that  they  may  not  be  wasted. 

An  important  thing,  in  the  cultivation  of  this  plant, 
is  the  annual  setting  of  a  seed  bed.  This  must  be  done 
regularly,  as  the  plantation  grows  in  extent  and  age, 
since  neglect  to  plant  only  one  seed  bed  will  mean  the 
loss  of  one,  perhaps  two,  or  even  three  crops,  because 
many  roots  require  one  or  two  years  longer  to  attain  a 
marketable  size.  It  will  be  economy  in  the  end  to 'pur- 
chase seed  in  any  one  year  that  furnishes  only  a  small 
supply  or  none  at  all.  Under  ordinary  circumstances, 
however,  this  necessity  should  not  occur  more  than  once 
or  twice,  and  then  only  in  the  first  few  years  while  the 
industry  is  getting  upon  its  feet  and  before  the  beds 
commence  to  bear  seed  in  any  quantity. 

CLIMATE  AND   LOCATION. 

From  what  has  been  said  of  the  natural  home  of 
the  plant  it  may  be  seen  that  ginseng  will  succeed  over 
a  wide  range  of  territory.  It  must  not,  however,  be 
inferred  from  this  that  it  can  be  grown  anywhere  in  this 
territory.  Efforts  to  grow  it  in  the  low  lands  of  the 
southern  states  are  almost  sure  to  meet  with  failure,  or 
when  failure  be  prevented  it  will  be  at  the  cost  of  so 
much  effort  that  there  will- be  no  profit  or  pleasure  in  it. 
The  phmt  demands  a  cool  climate,  such  as  is  found  in  the 
northern  states  and  in  the  high  lands  of  both  the  north 
and  the  south.  In  such  places  it  will  grow  as  easily  in 
cultivated  areas  as  in  the  forest,  provided  the  proper 
conditions  be  furnished. 


CLIMATE,    LOCATION  AND   SOIL.  19 

In  choosing  locations  for  beds,  particularly  in  the 
more  southerly  states,  be  sure  to  give  the  northern 
exposure  the  preference,  because  the  plants  will  do  bet- 
ter where  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  are  more  or  less 
overcome  by  the  sloping  of  the  land  to  the  north.  In 
such  exposures,  too,  the  land  is  less  robbed  of  moisture. 
But  if  the  soil  and  other  conditions  are  unfavorable,  or 
where  such  an  aspect  cannot  be  secured,  do  not  hesitate 
because  an  eastern,  a  western,  or  even  a  southern  aspect 
must  be  utilized.  Ginseng  will  prove  profitable,  as  it 
has  in  former  cases,  provided  the  necessary  care  be  taken 
to  secure  plenty  of  shade  and  moisture.  Other  condi- 
tions being  equal,  however,  the  northern  slope  is  best 
and  the  southern  poorest. 

SOIL. 

Having  chosen  the  location  for  the  bed,  the  next 
question,  or  rather  the  one  that  must  be  considered  at 
the  same  time  as  the  location  question,  is  the  choice  of 
soil.  Choose  almost  any  quality  or  texture,  with  the 
exceptions  of  clay,  heavy  clay  loam,  light  sand  and 
muck.  These  are  not  adapted  to  the  requirements  of 
the  plant  and  its  best  development.  The  best  soil  is  a 
good,  friable  loam,  light  rather  than  heavy,  and  well 
supplied  with  decaying  vegetable  matter.  It  must  be 
clear  of  stones,  clods,  chunks  of  wood,  tree  roots  and 
other  obstructions,  so  that  the  ginseng  roots  may  have 
free  range  to  develop  and  not  be  robbed  of  food  or  be 
distorted.  If  the  soil  be  filled  with  obstructions  the 
roots  will  often  be  greatly  branched,  but  if  free  they 
will  tend  to  be  of  more  regular  shape,  and  can  thus  be 
much  more  easily  dug  when  the  time  comes.  The  dif- 
ference in  shape,  in  size,  and  in  earliness  of  maturity 
between  roots  grown  upon  a  deep,  mellow  loam,  and 
those  grown  upon  a  heavy  soil,  is  so  remarkable  that  an 
inexperienced  person  might  easily  doubt  that  each  lot 
sprang  from  the  same  seed. 


20  THE  GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

The  deeper  the  soil,  the  better.  It  should  also  be 
underlaid  with,  some  porous  subsoil  to  insure  natural 
drainage,  which  for  this  crop,  particularly  when  grown 
in  the  woods,  is  much  more  desirable  than  drainage  by 
artificial  means.  Moreover,  artificial  drainage  of  forest 
beds  would  often  be  attended  with  much  inconvenience 
and  expense,  owing  to  the  liability  of  tile  or  other  arti- 
ficial channels  to  be  clogged  by  tree  roots,  especially 
where  elm,  willow  and  such  water-loving  trees  grow  not 
far  off. 

If  the  beds  be  upon  the  level,  as  all  garden  and 
orchard  beds  should  be,  the  subsoil  should  never  be  clay, 
hard  pan  or  rock,  because,  owing  to  their  shallowness, 
such  formations  are  sure  to  be  too  wet  in  the  spring, 
autumn  and  winter,  and  too  dry  in  summer.  In  the 
forest  these  adverse  conditions  are  more  or  less  overcome 
by  the  natural  mulches  of  leaves,  but  even  in  the  woods 
such  situations  should  be  avoided,  if  possible.  In  win- 
ter, unless  the  beds  be  veny  carefully  mulched,  the 
plants  will  be  very  liable  to  be  heaved  out  and  destroyed 
by  frost.  If,  however,  the  hard  subsoil  or  rock  be  some 
inches  below  the  frost  line  there  should  be  little  danger 
of  injury  from  frost  or  from  drying  out  in  summer,  pro- 
vided the  soil  be  good,  and  well  mulched.  If  the  loca- 
tion of  the  bed  be  upon  a^  slope,  particularly  if  it  be 
situated  near  the  top,  the  presence  of  an  impenetrable 
subsoil,  especially  in  summer,  is  of  small  consequence, 
since  the  excess  water  will  be  almost  sure  to  drain  away 
naturally  before  damage  could  occur. 

But  while  it  is  important  to  carry  off  the  excess 
water,  do  not  suppose  that  the  beds  should  be  dry. 
Ginseng  will  not  thrive  in  such  soil,  while  freshly  gath- 
ered seed  planted  in  it,  as  already  described,  and  thus 
exposed  during  the  hot  months  of  summer,  will  be  snre 
to  perish.  The  most  important  point  to  consider,  in 
choosing  the  soil — even  more  important  than  depth, 


PREPARATION   OF  THE   BEDS.  21 

quality  and  position — is  its  natural  power  of  holding 
moisture.  Do  not  understand,  by  this,  that  a  wet  soil 
is  meant;  ginseng  does  not  grow  naturally  in  such 
ground,  and  will  die  when  stuck  in  a  bog. 

To  sum  up :  Choose  a  moist,  mellow,  deep  loam, 
rich  in  decaying  vegetable  matter,  free  from  obstruc- 
tions, naturally  well  drained  and  preferably  facing  the 
north.  Such  a  soil,  in  such  a  situation,  will  be  almost 
sure  to  be  capable  of  retaining  moisture  and  of  giving 
good  return  at  digging  time. 

PREPARATION    OF    THE   BEDS. 

We  are  now  ready  to  prepare  our  plantation.  We 
may  dispense  with  all  beds,  and  trust  to  nature  to  do 
the  work.  All  that  Js  necessary,  in  this  case,  is  to 
roughly  clear  the  ground  of  brush  and  leaves,  scatter 
and  lightly  cover  the  seed,  and  trust  to  time.  This  is 
the  lazy  man's  method,  and  is  liable  to  great  losses  from 
the  drying  out  of  the  seed-  and  from  the  browsing  and 
trampling  of  animals.  It  is  slow  in  the  extreme. 
It  is  therefore  condemned,  and  the  following  one 
recommended. 

We  will  need  one  bed  in  which  to  raise  seedlings, 
and  another  in  which  to  transplant  our  growing  roots. 
Let  us  look  at  the  nursery,  or  seed  bed,  first.  Spare  no 
pains  to  make  it  perfect.  The  best  place  for  it,  as  in 
fact  for  all  ginseng  beds,  is  in  the  forest,  where  the  trees 
are  tall,  and  where  there  is  no  undergrowth  to  interfere. 
Fig.  8  presents  a  photograph  of  Mr.  George  Stanton's 
nursery  plantation,  where  young  ginseng  plants  are 
raised  by  the  tens  of  thousands.  As  will  be  seen,  it  is 
admirably  adapted  for  the  purpose  to  which  it  is  put, 
the  trees  being  tall,  the  undergrowth  scant,  and  the 
shade  not  too  dense. 

Fork  the  ground  over  thoroughly  to  the  depth  of  a 
foot  or  more,  and  take  out  all  tree  roots  and  stones"  that 


THE  GINSENG  INDUSTRY. 


PREFAB ATIOST  OF  THE   BEDS.  23 

might  interfere  with  the  young  ginseng  plants.  It  may 
often  occur  that  the  soil,  though  rich  in  vegetable  mat- 
ter at  the  surface,  may  have  practically  none  lower  down 
than  four  or  five  inches.  In  such  cases,  give  a  heavy 
application  of  leaf  mold  and  work  it  in  well.  Remember 
that  labor  thus  expended  will  be  well  rewarded.  Should 
there  be  danger  of  flooding,  raise  the  beds  two  or  three 
inches,  and  protect  them  by  boards  at  the  sides  and 
ends.  These  need  be  only  six  inches  wide,  as  a  rule, 
and  may  be  held  in  place  by  stakes. 

The  size  of  the  nursery  bed  will,  of  course,  be  gov- 
erned by  the  quantity  of  seed  at  hand.  Do  not  make 
the  width  more  than  four  feet,  because  in  wide  beds  the 
centers  are  harder  to  reach  than  in  narrow  ones  and  the 
difficulty  of  properly  attending  to  them  is  thus  greater. 
A  bed  three  or  four  feet  wide  will  be  found  best,  a? 
every  part  can  be  reached  with  but  little  exertion.  Since 
the  nursery  bed  is  usually  small  and  demands  more  fre- 
quent attention  than  permanent  beds,  it  will  be  better 
to  have  it  narrow  than  to  use  the  method  described  later 
on  for  attending  to  the  permanent  beds.  The  best  situ- 
ation for  a  nursery  bed  in  a  garden  plantation  is  upon 
the  extreme  north  of  the  plot.  It  will  be  least  exposed 
to  the  sun,  even  when  shade  is  provided. 

To  calculate  the  amount  of  space  necessary  for  a 
given  amount  of  seed,  allow  from  nine  to  twelve  square 
feet  for  each  ounce  of  seed  to  be  sown.  The  distance 
between  the  rqws,  and  the  seeds  in  the  rows,  mentioned 
under  Planting,  will  account  for  the  difference  in  the 
amount  of  space  required. 

In  both  nursery  and  permanent  beds  situated  in  the 
forest  and  in  beds  set  out  in  orchards  or  near  trees,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  cut  around  the  beds  each  year  at  least 
once,  to  kill  any  tree  roots  that  may  find  their  way  into 
the  ground  prepared  for  ginseng.  If  neglected  only  one 
year,  the  amount  of  work  to  be  done  the  following  year 


24 


THE  GINSENG  INDUSTRY. 


PREPARATION   OF  THE  BEDS.  25 

will  be  more  than  double,  on  account  of  the  larger  num- 
ber, greater  strength  and  size  of  the  roots  that  will  have 
developed.  If  attended  to  regularly  each  year,  the  work 
will  be  slight  and  the  benefit  to  the  beds  much  greater. 
In  locating  a  bed  in  an  orchard,  it  is  best  to  avoid 
proximity  to  cherry  trees,  as  the  plants,  for  some  unex- 
plained reason,  do  not  thrive  under  this  fruit  tree. 
They  do  well,  however,  under  apple  trees.  When  set 
under  these,  it  is  better  to  put  the  bed  under  late 
fall  or  winter  apples,  because  these  do  not  drop  to  the 
ground  so  much  during  the  growing  season  of  ginseng 
as  early  apples.  Much  breakage  and  consequent  injury 
to  the  plants  may  thus  be  avoided. 

PREPARATION   OF   PERMANENT   BEDS. 

There  need  be  little  difference  between  the  prepara- 
tion of  a  permanent  bed  and  that  of  a  nursery  bed. 
The  principal  differences'  are  in  the  width  of  the  beds 
and  the  texture  of  the  soil.  The  width  of  the  perma- 
nent beds  may  be  as  much  as  six  or  seven  feet,  the  for- 
mer width  preferred  if  the  beds  are  situated  in  the 
forest,  where  space  is  unlimited.  But  in  the  garden  or 
in  the  orchard,  where  artificial  shade  must  be  provided, 
and  where,  as  a  consequence,  space  must  be  economized, 
make  them  seven  or  eight  feet  wide,  and  the  paths 
between  them  as  narrow  as  possible.  Eighteen  inches 
should  be  the  widest  limit.  A  garden  plantation  is 
shown  at  Fig.  9,  to  which  reference  will  be  made  later. 

If  a  wheelbarrow  is  to  be  taken  into  the  plantation 
and  the  path  is  not  wide  enough,  the  barrow  may  be 
run  over  the  beds  if  the  ground  be  frozen  hard  enough 
to  bear  it  up.  There  will  be  no  necessity  to  take  a 
wheelbarrow  into  the  plantation  at  any  time  during  the 
growing  season,  because  if  properly  managed  there 
should  be  no  weeds  to  cart  away  and  no  manure  to 
apply.  The  manuring  may  all  be  done  in  the  late  fall. 


26  THE  GINSENG  INDUSTRY. 

To  make  weeding  in  the  centers  of  wide  beds  easy, 
place  strong  boards  twelve  inches  wide  on  each  side  of 
the  bed,  and  when  cultivating  lay  a  stout  board  upon 
them,  to  be  used  as  a  seat  while  weeding.  Another 
plan  is  to  use  a  horse  like  the  one  illustrated  in  Fig.  10, 
instead  of  the  boards.  This  should  be  made  high 
enough  to  clear  the  plants. 

With  regard  to  the  texture  of  the  soil,  it  has  been 
found  that  although  the  seedlings  do  well  in  the  soil 
mixture  recommended  for  them,  .the  older  plants  do  not 
succeed  so  well  when  grown  continuously  in  it.  The 
soil  for  the  permanent  beHs  should  not  be  so  light  that 
the  hand  may  be  plunged  into  it  to  the  depth  of  the 
roots,  as  in  the  case  of  good  nursery-bed  earth.  For 

permanent  beds  the 
soil  should  be  firmer, 
stronger  and  deeper. 
It  should  resemble 
good  garden  loam, 
FIG.  10.  WEEDING  HORSE.  but  should  have  more 

a,  Top  plank;  b,  b,  side  pieces;  c,  c,  braces.  humug  than  jg  found 

in  most  garden  soils.  In  such  a  soil,  the  time  required 
for  the  development  of  good,  marketable  roots  will  be 
less,  the  texture  of  the  roots  will  be  firmer,  and  their 
appearance  will  be  better  than  when  grown  in  lighter 
ground.  As  far  as  garden  beds  are  concerned,  any  soil 
that  approaches  the  quality  described  above  will  answer 
the  purpose,  provided  it  will  readily  retain  moisture, 
and  is  not  too  stiff.  The  bed  must  be  so  situated  that 
it  can  be  readily  shaded. 

PLANTING   OF  THE   SEED. 

The  statement  has  been  made,  that  the  seed  may 
either  be  sowed  at  on.ce  or  stored.  In  either  case,  the 
following  remarks  upon  planting  will  hold  good.  But 
owing  to  the  greater  risk  run.  and  the  extra  trouble 


PLANTING  THE  SEED. 


that  must  be  taken  to  prevent  the  seeds  from  drying  out 
in  the  bed  if  planted  as  soon  as  gathered,  it  will  be 
much  better  to  store  the  seeds  for  one  year,  as  already 
described. 

Set  the  seeds  singly  in  rows  two  or  three  inches 
apart  and  at  intervals  of  one  or  two  inches  apart  in  the 
row.  It  is  important  that  they  receive  plenty  of  mois- 
ture, particularly  until  the  little  plants  appear  above 
the  ground.  To  insure  this  the  seeds  should  be  set 
about  one  inch  below  the  surface  of  the  soil.  When 
properly  planted,  and  when  sown  in  the  autumn,  as  rec- 
ommended, the  seeds  will  require  but  little  attention. 


n 

. 

12 

a 

I    •     •  *  •  •  •  *  •  1 

10 
9 
8 

1   1    1    1    1    1    1    1    1    1    1    1   1    1   1 

• 
• 

• 

7 

6 
5 
4- 
3 
2 
/ 

J  *•  h  | 

1  fe  a 

f  c  b  i 

r 

FIG.   11.     HANDY   MARKER. 


Fig.  11  shows  a  handy  tool  which  will  enable  the  grower 
to  set  the  seeds  very  rapidly  at  the  proper  depth  and  the 
proper  interval.  Bore  three-quarter-inch  holes  an  inch 
apart  in  a  piece  of  pine  board,  say,  three-fourths  of  an 
inch  thick,  about  three  inches  wide,  and  as  long  as  the 
width  of  the  bed.  Fill  each  hole  with  a  peg  long  enough 
to  project  an  inch.  When  a  handle  has  been  added,  the 
tool  will  be  ready  to  use.  Lay  it  flat  across  the  bed  and 
press  down  until  the  pegs  have  sunk  in  the  ground, 
making  the  holes  1,  2,  3,  4,  etc.,  as  shown  in  the  sketch. 
This  will  give  the  distances  between  the  plants  in  the 


28  THE  GINSEKG  IKbtJST&Y. 

first  row  across  the  bed.  To  get  the  position  of  the 
other  rows,  place  the  tool  at  right  angles  to  the  first 
row,  and  press  it  down  as  before,  making  the  holes 
a,  b,  c,  etc.  Skip  two  of  the  holes,  b,  c,  thus  made, 
and,  putting  the  first  peg  of  the  marker  in  the  third 
hole,  d,  lay  the  tool  parallel  to  the  first  row  and  press  it 
down.  And  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  bed.  The  seeds 
may  then  be  dropped  in  the  holes  and  covered  with  a 
little  soil.  The  writer  can  testify,  from  long  experience 
with  this  tool,  that  double  the  area  can  be  planted  in  a 
given  time,  that  the  bed  will  present  a  far  more  even 
appearance,  and  that  it  can  be  much  more  easily  culti- 
vated than  when  planted  in  the  ordinary  way. 

When  all  the  seeds  have  been  planted,  cover  the 
entire  bed  to  the  depth  of  an  inch  with  muck  or  leaf 
mold,  the  latter  preferred.  Then  scatter  loose  brush 
over  it,  in  order  to  catch  and  hold  leaves,  which  will 
help  to  protect  the  seed  during  the  winter.  Before 
growth  starts  in  the  spring  remove  the  brush,  but  let 
the  leaves  remain  unless  a  very  deep  layer  has  been 
made.  They  will  act  as  a  summer  mulch.  The  seed- 
lings will  in  no  wise  be  inconvenienced,  but  will  appear 
through  the  leaf  covering. 

TBEATMENT  OF  SEEDLINGS. 

The  little  plants  may  be  expected  to  appear  about 
the  first  of  May  in  the  North ;  probably  two,  three,  or 
even  four  weeks  earlier  in  the  South.  In  the  cultivated 
beds  they  can  readily  be  distinguished  from  all  weeds 
because  of  their  being  in  rows,  so  there  need  be  no  mis- 
take when  weeding  the  bed.  Commence  weeding  as 
soon  as  there  is  any  weed  to  be  taken  out,  and  continue 
through  the  season. 

It  is  not  wise  to  disturb  the  soil  by  any  cultivation, 
particularly  if  the  leaf  mulch  has  been  left,  since  this 
might,  and  probably  would,  break  the  tender  little  stems 


TREATMENT   OF   SEEDLINGS.  2$ 

and  roots.  The  removal  of  weeds  is  the  only  attention 
necessary  during  the  growing  season,  and  this,  owing  to 
the  presence  of  the  leaf  mulch,  which  will  prevent  weed 
growth  to  a  large  extent,  will  be  only  slight  labor. 
When  the  plants  have  died  down  in  the  autumn,  give  a 
dressing  of  well-rotted  horse  manure  and  replace  the 
brush  covering.  In  the  second  season  give  the  bed  the 
same  treatment  as  during  the  first,  namely,  remove  the 
brush  in  the  spring  and  the  weeds  during  the  summer. 

In  the  second  autumn  transplant  the  young  plants 
to  the  permanent  beds,  after  the  digging  of  the  roots 
has  been  completed  in  October.  Trimming  should  be 
done  only  when  the  roots  are  much  injured  in  the  dig- 
ging and  seem  unlikely  to  recover.  After  replanting, 
they  must  be  covered  with  muck  or  leaf  mold  in  the 
same  manner  as  they  were  the  previous  seasons  in  the 
nursery  beds. 

The  advantages  of  setting  the  plants  in  the  autumn 
are  that  they  have  already  prepared  for  winter,  and  what 
little  injury  they  may  suffer  in  the  digging  and  trans- 
planting will  be  callused  over  long  before  spring  opens. 
Moreover,  the  work  may  be  done  at  any  leisure  time  the 
grower  may  have  between-  the  dying  down  of  the  tops 
and  the  advent  of  frost.  If  left  until  the  spring,  how- 
ever, the  rush  of  other  work  may  prevent  the  transplant- 
ing until  the  plants  have  srown  so  much  that  injury 
may  result.  But  there  is  no'  other  objection  to  set- 
ting in  the  spring  if  this  be  preferred,  and  the  grower 
need  not  wait  until  the  plants  have  appeared  above 
ground,  because  if  the  bed  has  been  properly  laid  out  he 
can  lay  his  hand  upon  them  at  any  time,  and  may  set 
them  as  early  as  the  ground  will  permit,  the  earlier 
the  better. 

It  is  generally  only  a  matter  of  convenience,  when 
the  cultivated  beds  are  employed,  whether  the  planting 
be  done  in  the  spring  or  in  the  fall.  And  this  is  a  dis- 


30  THE  GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

tinct  advantage  they  possess  over  beds  set  with  wild 
roots,  which  generally  suffer  considerably  from  injuries 
to  their  fibrous  roots,  with  which  they  are  usually  rather 
poorly  supplied. 

.TREATMENT   OF   PERMANENT   BEDS. 

The  treatment  of  the  permanent  bed  differs  little 
from  that  of  the  nursery  bed.  The  roots  must,  how- 
ever, be  set  farther  apart.  It  has  been  found  that,  for 
roots  from  two  to  four  years  old,  a  distance  of  about  five 
inches  apart  each  way  is  sufficient.  For  older  roots 
increase  the  distance.  A  common  garden  trowel  is  the 
best  tool  for  setting  the  plants,  and  the  tool  illustrated 
in  Fig.  11,  but  with  the  pegs  made  longer  and  set 
farther  apart,  will  be  found  useful  in  marking  the  posi- 
tion of  the  plants  in  the  beds.  After  setting  the  roots 
the  beds  must  be  kept  clear  of  weeds,  mulched  with 
leaf  mold  or  muck,  like  the  nursery  beds,  and  covered 
with  brush  each  autumn,  as  before.  It  will  usually 
take  from  three  to  five  years  from  the  transplanting  of 
the  two-year-old  seedlings  to  obtain  marketable  roots. 
With  certain  specimens  and  under  certain  cultural  con- 
ditions this  time  will  be  greater  and  the  profit  will 
consequently  be  less.  This  question  will,  however,  be 
more  fully  discussed  under  the  heading,  Selection,  for 
Improvement. 

ARTIFICIAL  PROPAGATION. 

It  has  already  been  shown  that  ginseng  propagates 
itself  only  by  means  of  its  seeds.  But  a  method  of 
artificial  propagation  may  often  be  practiced  with  the 
older  roots.  After  three  years  of  growth  in  the  culti- 
vated beds  they  frequently  develop  side  roots  near  the 
crown,  as  already  shown  in  Fig.  7,  which,  if  carefully 
removed  with  a  sharp  knife  and  planted  immediately, 
may  be  made  to  grow.  When  they  succeed,  which  they 
will  do  if  properly  handled,  they  may  produce  seed  the 


PROTECTION   OF  THE  BEDS.  31 

first  season  after  being  divided,  and  the  roots  will  grow 
to  a  marketable  size  much  sooner  than  seedlings.  Often 
two,  or  even  more,  years  may  be  gained  by  this  method 
with  individual  roots.  By  this  is  meant  only  that  after 
the  roots  have  been  separated  and  grown  in  the  bed  two 
or  three  seasons  they  may  be  large  enough  to  dig  for 
drying. 

PROTECTION   OF  TJIE   BEDS. 

The  first  protection,  in  a  ginseng  plantation,  is  the 
protection  against  thieves.  The  root  commands  so  high 
a  price  and  is  so  energetically  sought,  that  if  the  beds 
be  situated  where  ginseng  hunters  can  have  access  to 
them  the  profits  of  growing  the  crop  will  be  small 
indeed.  In  Kentucky,  where  the  root  is  very  largely 
gathered  in  the  woods,  numerous  cases  are  upon  record 
of  men  growing  several  thousand  roots  to  a  marketable 
size,  only  to  have  them  stolen  a  few  days  before  they 
intended  digging  them  themselves.  Usually  they  have 
.not  attempted  to  grow  them  again,  but  sometimes  they 
concluded,  from  the  appearance  of  the  plants  and  their 
method  of  handling  them,  that  they  could  make  money 
by  guarding  them,  and  have  built  fences  and  shelters 
around  their  beds,  and  have  even  employed  watchmen 
profitably.  The  average  "sang"  digger  has  very  little 
conscience,  and  questions  not  whether  the  roots  are 
cultivated  and  rightfully  belong  to  another.  There- 
fore, unless  the  grower  can  place  his  beds  beyond  the 
sight  and  reach  of  the  professional  hunter  of  this  root, 
he  had  better  not  attempt  ginseng  cultivation. 

Protection  against  cattle  and  sheep  is  next  in 
importance.  All  grazing  stock,  and  probably  deer,  are 
fond  of  the  leaves  of  this  plant  and  the  beds  must  be 
protected  against  them  if  they  are  allowed  free  range  in 
the  woods  where  the  beds  are  located.  Even  animals 
not  partial  to  the  leaves  may  do  considerable  injury  by 
trampling  over  the  beds  if  left  unprotected.  The  best 


32  THE   GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

kind  of  fence  is  a  matter  that  the  grower  must  decide 
for  himself. 

The  third  protection  is  the  mulch.  Keep  it  upon 
the  bed  both  summer  and  winter.  In  the  hot  months 
let  it  be  light  and  shallow,  but  deep  enough  to  check 
the  evaporation  of  moisture  from  the  soil.  In  the  cold 
months  make  the  mulch  deep,  so  as  to  prevent  all  possi- 
bility of  the  roots  being  injured  by  frost.  For  these 
purposes  there  is  nothing  better  than  leaves,  which  are 
the  natural  coverings  of  the  plants  at  both  seasons. 
And  there  is  no  better  way  of  collecting  and  holding 
them  in  place  than  by  the  brush  covering  already 
spoken  of. 

MANURING. 

If  the  soil  be  naturally  fertile,  little  or  no  manuring 
will  be  necessary  for  the  first  crop.  But  for  later  crops, 
and  upon  soils  not  already  well  supplied  with  plant  food, 
a  dressing  of  well-rotted  horse  manure  may  be  used 
adyantageously.  Avoid  fresh  manure  as  much  as  pos- 
sible; but  where  no  rotted  manure  can  be  obtained  and 
only  fresh  can  be  had,  spread  it  in  the  autumn  after  the 
tops  of  the  plants  have  died  down,  and  only  then.  It 
should  then  do  no  harm,  but  if  applied  fresh  in  the 
spring,  there  is  danger  of  the  plants  becoming  injured 
by  contact  with  strong  solutions  of  the  manure,  particu- 
larly while  the  plants  are  very  young  and  are  just  push- 
ing through  the  soil. 

Potash  salts  and  phosphates  have  been  experimented 
with  to  a  limited  extent,  and  have  been  found  beneficial. 
But  for  general  plantations,  well-rotted  horse  manure  at 
the  rate  of  about  one  wheelbarrow  load  to  fifty  square 
feet  upon  ordinary  soil  will  be  found  sufficient.  If  pot- 
ash is  to  be  given,  choose  the  sulphate  in  preference  to 
the  muriate,  as  the  latter  sometimes  has  an  injurious 
effect  upon  certain  soils  and  the  former  does  not.  Phos- 
phoric acid  may  be  applied  in  the  form  of  ground  bone 


SHADES  AND  SHADING.  33 

or  the  superphosphate.  Unleached  wood  ashes  from 
hardwood  trees  may  be  applied  in  the  autumn  and  will 
often  benefit  the  plants.  Such  manures  should,  how- 
ever, be  used  with  great  caution,  as  they  are  very  strong, 
and  if  applied  too  liberally  are  likely  to  injure  the 
plants,  particularly  while  young. 

If  the  soil  be  very  rich,  dense,  and  retentive  of  fer- 
tility, make  the  applications  of  stable  manure  lighter 
than  mentioned,  or  withhold  them  altogether ;  if  poor, 
sandy  and  leachy,  let  them  be  heavier,  even  double  the 
amount  specified.  But  try  to  avoid  soils  that  demand 
large  quantities  of  fertilizer,  because  they  will  usually  be 
un suited  to  this  crop  in  other  ways. 

SHADES   AND   SHADING. 

The  natural  shade  of  the  forest  is  always  better 
than  any  artificial  shade  that  can  be  produced.  This 
must  not,  however,  be  too  dense.  The  best  way  to 
secure  the  proper  degree  of  shade  in  the  forest  planta- 
tion is  to  remove  all  the  smaller  growth  for  a  space  of 
twenty  feet  from  the  margins  of  the  beds.  This,  besides 
reducing  the  drain  made  upon  the  soil  by  the  roots  of 
these  saplings,  will  leave  the  taller  trees  to  supply  the 
shade,  and  if  they  are  not  too  bare  of  limbs  they  will 
give  sufficient. 

But  where  forest  beds  cannot  be  laid  out,  be  sure 
to  provide  an  artificial  shade  of  some  kind.  This  may 
be  supplied  in  several  ways.  Perhaps  the  simplest  that 
suggests  itself  to  the  beginner  is  the  growing  of  some 
hardy  perennial  climbers  upon  frames  above  the  plants. 
But  this  generally  requires  too  much  time  to  produce  a 
sufficient  shade,  and  too  much  plant  food  is  likely  to  be 
taken  from  the  soil  by  the  climbers.  It  is  therefore 
not  recommended. 

A  second  plan  is  the  growing  of  annual  climbers 
upon  strings.  For  this  method  make  the  beds  run  east 
3 


84  THE  GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

and  west,  and  plant  such  seeds  as  Yosemite  wax,  scarlet 
runner  or  other  climbing  beans,  morning  glories  and 
Japanese  variegated  hop  along  the  south  margin.  Set 
light,  ten-foot  posts  on  the  north  side  of  the  beds,  deep 
enough  in  the  ground  to  secure  support  to  the  light 
poles  nailed  across  their  tops  and  to  the  vines  to  be 
grown.  At  the  surface  of  the  ground  fasten  a  strip  of 
narrow  board  firmly  with  stakes  parallel  to  the  bed. 
Before  setting  the  board  in  place,  drive  stout  tacks  almost 
full  length  into  the  board,  to  which  fasten  the  strings. 
By  using  a  little  ingenuity,  much  labor  may  be  saved 
in  putting  up  the  strings.  One  way  is  to  tie  the 
string  at  the  first  tack  at  the  bottom  end  of  the  bed, 
and  having  the  twine  in  a  ball,  stretch  it  to  the  first 
tack  at  the  top,  giving  it  a  wind  around  this  tack,  and 
carrying  it  to  the  next  one,  again  winding.it  and  carry- 
ing to  the  second  tack  below.  Repeat  the  process  until 
the  whole  is  done,  and  fasten  the  string  to  the  last  tack. 

The  climbers  mentioned  are  all  rapid  growers,  and 
when  sown  early,  in  rich  soil,  should  produce  a  good 
shade  long  before  the  hot  weather  sets  in.  This  plan 
allows  of  perfect  freedom  in  the  management  of 
the  bed,  but  is  open  to  the  objection  that  it  is  not 
permanent  and  necessitates  reconstruction  each  year, 
and  unless  sheltered  from  strong  winds  is  likely  to  suf- 
fer. There  is  also  some  slight  loss  of  fertility,  due  to 
the  feeding  of  the  plants  upon  the  ginseng  beds,  and 
often  much  trouble  from  the  seedlings  that  may  spring 
up  in  the  bed  and  become  weeds.  This  last  is  the  main 
objection  to  the  plan.  But  in  the  case  of  the  beans  it 
might  be  made  of  small  account,  as  the  pods  could  be 
removed  before  they  dropped  their  seed.  If  an  edible 
bean  be  planted,  a  crop  could  be  secured  from  the  plants. 

Probably  the  best  artificial  shade  is  made  with  laths. 
These,  for  economy  and  ease  in  handling,  should  be 
made  in  square  sections,  as  shown  in  Fig.  12.  Lay  two 


SHADES   AND   SHADING. 


35 


laths  parallel  to  each  other  and  the  length  of  a  lath 
apart.  Lay  other  laths  upon  and  between  them  at 
intervals  of  an  inch  and  fasten  them  to  the  first  pair 
with  clinch  nails.  The  section  may  be  made  extra 
strong  by  interweaving  a  lath  across  the  slats,  as  shown 
in  the  sketch.  In  the  spring,  before  the  plants  begin  to 
appear,  tie  these  sections  to  a  framework  of  scantling 


FIG.  12.     LATH    SCREEN  FOR  SHADE. 

raised  upon  posts  high  enough  from  the  ground  to  per- 
mit of  standing  erect  under  it.  See  Fig.  9  for  com- 
pleted shade. 

In  October  remove  and  store  the  sections  in  some 
dry  place.  They  may  thus  be  made  to  last  longer  than 
when  exposed.  Since,  in  regions  where  the  snowfall  is 
heavy,  many  sections  would  likely  be  broken  if  left  in 


36  THE  GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

place  during  the  winter,  they  should  not  be  left  exposed 
to  the  weather  and  to  decay.  Again,  when  they  are 
removed  there  is  better  chance  for  leaves  to  collect  upon 
the  beds  and  to  protect  them.  Along  the  sides  of  the 
bed  exposed  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  it  will  be  found 
necessary  to  place  a  vertical  shade,  to  protect  those  parts 
of  the  bed  from  the  summer  sun. 

A  modification  of  this  plan  is  to  make  the  frame- 
work for  the  sections  just  high  enough  from  the  ground 
to  clear  the  plants  by  a  few  inches.  With  the  smaller 
plants,  about  fifteen  inches,  and  with  the  larger  about 
thirty  inches,  will  usually  be  about  right.  In  this 
method  the  sections  are  not  fastened  to  the  frame,  but 
only  held  in  place  by  stones  or  other  weights,  which  can 
easily  be  removed  when  the  bed  is  to  be  weeded  or  other- 
wise attended.  The  plan  is  not  so  good  as  the  preceding 
one,  since  there  is  likely  to  be  too  much  shade  in  some 
spots  and  not  enough  in  others,  and  there  will  always 
be  more  or  less  annoyance  and  loss  of  time  in  having  to 
lift  the  sections  out  of  the  way  when  attending  to  the 
plants. 

ENEMIES. 

So  far  as  can  be  learned,  ginseng  has  no  specific 
enemy.  A  few  insects  and  snails  may  occasionally  be 
found  upon  its  leaves,  and  sometimes  trouble  has  been 
caused  by  worms  at  the  roots,  but  this  latter  has  been 
only  when  the  roots  have  been  attacked  by  some  kind  of 
decay,  the  products  of  which,  and  not  the  roots  them- 
selves, were  attractive  to  the  creatures.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  this  decay  there  seem  to  be  no  diseases  that 
attack  the  plant,  a  point  well  worth  noting.  It  is  prob- 
able, too,  that  the  decay  is  caused  by  injury  of  some 
kind  to  the  roots,  since  it  has  not  been  noticed  in 
cultivated  beds  except  very  rarely. 

Injury  is  often  done  by  moles  and  mice.  The  moles 
do  not  attack  the  plants,  but  merely  make  tunnels 


SELECTION  FOB  IMPROVEMENT.  37 

through  the  beds  and  thus  disturb  the  plants.  It  is 
likely  that  the  moles  do  as  much  good  as  harm,  since 
they  eat  a  great  many  worms  and  grubs  that  might 
injure  the  plants.  If  the  grubs  were  not  present  the 
moles  would  not  give  any  trouble,  because  they  would 
seek  places  better  supplied  with  food.  Mice  are  charged 
with  eating  the  roots,  whether  justly  or  not  it  is  hard  to 
say.  But  since  they  give  trouble  by  making  nests  and 
burrows  in  the  beds,  they  are  nuisances  and  should  be 
kept  in  check.  The  usual  methods  of  catching  both 
moles  and  mice  will  apply  to  the  ginseng  bed  pests. 
Dogs,  cats,  poison  and  traps  are  all  useful. 

Chickens  should  be  kept  away  from  the  beds, 
because  they  are  sure  to  be  grateful  to  the  grower  for 
preparing  so  nice  a  place  to  scratch.  They  are  also  said 
to  be  fond  of  the  berries  when  these  are  ripe.  There  are 
cheaper  chicken  foods  than  ginseng  berries  at  a  dollar 
an  ounce  for  the  seed. 

SELECTION   FOR   IMPROVEMENT. 

A  point  that  should  be  considered  by  every  grower 
of  this  root,  is  the  improvement  of  his  stock.  This,  it 
seems  probable,  can  be  accomplished  by  the  practice  of 
methods  successfully  applied  in  the  improvement  of 
other  cultivated  plants.  Care  and  patience  are  the  two 
principal  requisites. 

Select  the  best  specimens  and  grow  them  in  a  bed 
by  themselves,  giving  them  a  little  extra  attention.  Save 
the  plants  and  the  seed  they  mature  separate  from  the 
general  crop,  and  when  the  plants  so  produced  are  large 
enough  to  judge  of  their  qualities,  select  those  that 
seem  the  best,  and  transplant  the  poorer  ones  to  the 
general  market  bed.  Save  and  plant  the  seed  from  the 
superior  ones,  as  before,  and  so  continue. 

By  choosing  the  best  formed,  the  earliest  maturing 
and  the  largest  roots,  these  qualities  may  be  imparted  to 


38  THE  GINSENG  INDUSTRY, 


FIG.  13.     mREGULAR  BOOTS. 


SELECTION  FOR   IMPROVEMENT.  39 

the  descendants,  and  by  selecting  seed  from  plants  that 
produce  it  soonest  or  in  largest  amount,  these  qualities 
may  be  perpetuated.  By  combining  these  points,  select- 
ing the  all-round  best  variety,  propagating  from  it  and 
discarding  all  those  that  do  not  approach  the  ideal,  such 
as  shown  in  Fig.  13,  the  proportion  of  superior  speci- 
mens to  inferior  will  gradually  increase  until  the  valua- 
ble characteristics  become  fixed  and  a  variety  becomes 
established. 

It  is  confidently  believed  that  as  great  changes  can 
be  wrought  in  the  character  of  the  ginseng  plant  as  have 
been  brought  about,  for  instance,  in  the  carrot,  which 
in  its  wild  state  is  a  noxious  weed.  This  change 
would  include,  among  other  things,  a  reduction  in  time 
between  seeding  and  harvest,  an  increased  proportion  of 
large  to  small  roots  obtained  from  any  given  quantity  of 
seed,  and  an  improvement  in  the  form,  size  and  weight 
of  the  specimens  themselves.  Further,  a  variety  known 
to  possess  valuable  characters  will  always  command  a 
higher  price  among  planters,  and  the  originator  of  such 
a  variety  could  thus  be  paid  for  his  time  and  trouble. 
In  a  plant  of  such  slow  growth  as  ginseng,  a  variety 
that  would  take  one-half  the  time  to  produce  a  market- 
able root  should  be  worth  at  least  double  the  price  of 
ordinary  seed  or  young  plants  for  setting,  and  the  same 
should  be  true  of  the  qualities  of  size,  form,  weight  and 
increased  seed  production,  the  superior  variety  always 
commanding  the  higher  price. 

It  may  be  noted  that  large  seed  will  usually  germi- 
nate in  advance  of  small,  produce  more  thrifty  plants, 
larger  roots,  and  perhaps  show  flowers  and  seeds  before 
plants  raised  from  smaller  seed  subjected  to  the  same 
conditions.  This  should  also  be  looked  after  in  the 
selection  of  superior  kinds. 

If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  method  of  selection  rec- 
ommended for  market  roots  be  practiced  (as  it  generally 


40  THE   GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

is  where  any  method  is  practiced  at  all),  instead  of  the 
method  described  above,  the  result  will  be  a  reduction 
in  the  amount  and  the  quality  of  the  seed,  a  diminution 
in  the  size  and  the  quality  of  the  roots  produced,  and  an 
increase  in  the  time  required  to  grow  them  to  a  market- 
able size.  The  same  results  will  be  apparent  when  no 
method  at  all  is  followed,  though  in  a  somewhat  less 
degree.  These  results  will  become  more  evident  as  the 
years  advance,  the  roots  getting  smaller  and  taking 
longer  each  generation. 

CULTIVATED  VERSUS  WILD  BOOT. 

For  export,  select  the  largest  and  heaviest  roots  ana 
make  them  perfectly  clean.  Such  ginseng  is  in  greatest 
demand  and  commands  the  highest  price.  Unless  spec- 
imens in  some  remote  degree  resemble  the  human  form, 
the  less  they  are  branched  the  better.  If  roots  be  found 
that  in  any  way  look  like  the  human  body,  wash  and 
cure  them  with  extra  care  and  keep  them  separate  from 
the  rest,  as  the  Chinese  value  them  far  more  highly  than 
the  ordinary  roots.  In  general,  however,  look  to  size, 
form,  weight  and  smoothness.  These  are  most  frequently 
found  in  the  cultivated  roots,  and  are  due  largely  to 
transplanting.  This  practice  tends  to  produce  many 
fibrous  roots,  instead  of  a  few  lar^e  branching  ones. 
The  main  advantage  of  this  is  that  the  rootlets  readily 
snap  off  in  the  drying,  thus  leaving  a  smooth  shaft  but 
little  defaced  by  their  removal. 

Cultivated  roots  require  less  time  in  drying  and  suf- 
fer less  shrinkage  in  the  process  than  wild  roots,  and  on 
account  of  their  better  appearance, — being  whiter  and 
clearer  (translucent), — they  command  a  higher  price  in 
the  market  than  the  wild.  In  1897  a  New  York  grower 
sold  his  crop  for  $1.50  more  than  the  market  quotation 
($4.50),  for  the  best  quality  of  wild  root  from  his  state. 
This  figure  was  then  unusual,  in  fact  the  highest  paid 


CULTIVATED   VERSUS   WILD   ROOT.          Ce 

for  many  years.  Six  dollars  have  been  offered  several 
times  last  season  for  cultivated  root.  And  it  may  be 
taken  as  a  general  rule  that  dealers,  in  buying  ginseng, 
or  in  fact  any  commodity,  will  give  a  higher  price  for  the 
better  grades  of  roots,  whether  cultivated  or  wild.  The 
former  certainly  is  much  superior  to  the  latter,  as 
generally  offered. 

Again,  it  is  believed  that  the  distinction  made  with 
regard  to  the  locality  in  which  the  root  grows  would  fre- 
quently be  set  aside,  and  a  higher  price  paid  for  the 
produce  of  the  beds  than  for  wild  root  from  the  same 
locality,  or  even  a  more  favored  region.  For  instance, 
southern  root  is  quoted  low,  and  northern  high,  because 
the  former  is  poorer  both  in  size  and  in  appearance. 
But  if  ginseng  were  cultivated  in  the  south  it  might  be 
expected  to  command  not  only  higher  prices  than  are 
usually  offered  for  wild  roots  from  its  locality,  but  prices 
equal  to  or  greater  than  those  offered  for  northern 
wild  root. 

PREPARATION  FOR   MARKET. 

In  digging,  which  is  the  first  step  in  the  preparation 
of  the  root  for  market,  be  careful  to  take  up  the  roots 
without  breaking  them,  since  whole  roots  command 
higher  prices  than  mutilated  ones.  If  the  digging  be 
started  at  one  end  of  the  bed,  taking  only  one  row  at  a 
time,  by  putting  the  spade  on  the  outside,  less  injury 
should  occur  than  if  the  plants  were  dug  from  the  end  of 
the  row  or  from  the  inside  of  it.  Digging  may  be  com- 
menced as  soon  as  the  plants  have  died  down  in  the 
autumn,  only  large  roots  being  selected  for  drying. 
Replant  all  the  undersized  ones  in  a  bed  previously  pre- 
pared for  them.  By  undersized  is  meant  all  roots  weigh- 
ing less  than,  say,  two  ounces.  This  method  will  save 
work  in  washing  and  drying,  the  roots  will  suffer  less 
shrinkage  in  drying,  will  command  a  higher  price 
because  of  their  better  size  and  uniformity,  and  for  the 


42  THE   GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

same  reason  will  become  recognized  by  tlie  dealer  who 
handles  them  as  of  superior  quality,  thus  gaining  his 
confidence. 

Large  quantities  of  good  root  are  annually  injured 
in  value  by  careless  handling  after  they  are  taken  from 
the  beds;  therefore,  pay  particular  attention  to  the  fol- 
lowing :  Shake  on2  all  loose  earth  and  place  the  roots  at 
once  in  water,  so  that  the  earth  remaining  upon  them 
may  not  become  dry,  and  thus  stick  to  the  roots.  When 
all  are  dug,  put  them  in  a  tub  with  plenty  of  water,  and 
wash  them  thoroughly  in  several  waters,  using  a  rather 
stiff  broom,  but  be  careful  not  to  break  the  roots.  Use 
a  hand  brush  to  finish  any  specimens  that  are  not  per- 
fectly clean  after  the  washing  in  the  tub.  The  roots  are 
now  ready  to  be  dried. 

Drying  in  the  sun  is  too  slow  a  process,  and  though 
practiced  to  a  large  extent  by  the  sang  diggers,  it  is  use- 
ful only  for  summer-dug  roots,  the  sun  not  being  warm 
enough  when  the  roots  are  dug  at  the  proper  season. 
The  practice  of  drying  the  roots  in  an  oven,  or  in  pans 
upon  the  top  of  the  stove,  is  usually  too  rapid,  and  there 
is  much  danger  of  burning  them  when  dried  in  this  way. 
The  value  of  many  roots  is  reduced  by  drying  them  on 
strings  hung  in  the  kitchen.  In  this  way  they  become 
more  or  less  discolored,  and  are  considered  inferior  on 
account  of  the  holes  made  in  them  by  the  strings.  As 
the  roots  run  such  great  risks  of  being  cooked  when 
dried  in  the  oven  or  upon  the  stove,  it  will  be  found 
best  to  rely  upon  a  more  gentle  heat.  Nothing  is  better 
than  to  dry  them  in  a  current  of  warm  air.  This  may 
be  secured  in  either  of  the  two  simple  homemade  dryers 
described  herewith. 

Get  a  box  large  enough  to  cover  the  top  of  the 
kitchen  stove,  and  deep  enough  to  hold  six  or  eight  slid- 
ing shelves.  Remove  the  bottom  entirely.  Make  a 
hole  in  the  top ;  take  off  one  side,  and  make  a  hinged 


PREPARATION  FOR  MARKET.  43 

door  to  fit  in  its  place  ;  make  a  number  of  shelves  with 
bottoms  of  wire  netting  of  about  one-fourth  inch  mesh. 
In  filling  the  trays  for  the  first  time,  put  the  largest 
roots  in  the  top  trays  and  the  smallest  upon  the  bottom 
ones,  the  lowest  of  which  should  be  at  least  six  inches 
above  the  top  of  the  stove.  Place  the  box  upon  the 
stove,  but  raised  about  half  an  inch  above  it,  so  as  to 
prevent  its  bottom  edges  from  becoming  scorched,  and 
to  insure  a  current  of  air  through  the  shelves  of  roots. 
A  few  stout  nails  left  projecting  above  the  edges  will 
accomplish  this  end.  Fill  the  trays  and  place  them  in 
the  dryer ;  do  not  have  a  roaring  fire.  The  heat  given 
off  from  an  ordinary  cook  stove  after  the  dinner  has 
been  removed  will  be  about  right  for  this  kind  of  dryer. 
Eemember,  it  is  warm,  and  not  hot,  air  that  gives  best 
results  in  drying.  The  objections  to  this  dryer  are  that 
it  is  often  in  the  way  of  the  housewife,  and  that  it  must 
frequently  be  removed  to  accommodate  her,  thus  losing 
much  time  in  the  necessarily  slow  process  of  curing  the 
roots.  If  a  separate  stove  can  be  used  for  it,  it  will  be 
found  a  first-class  apparatus. 

If  wood  be  used  for  fuel  and  the  stove  pipe  passes 
through  an  up|)er  room  that  may  be  used  for  the  pur- 
pose, a  good  dryer  may  be  made  to  fit  around  the  pipe. 
Or  where  the  house  is  heated  by  a  furnace,  a  portable 
dryer  may  be  made  to  fit  over  a  register.  Failing  these, 
the  grower  may  readily  construct  a  serviceable  dryer  to 
work  upon  the  principle  of  a  Warm  air  current  through 
the  roots,  that  will  meet  his  individual  needs.  A  shelf 
containing  two  hundred  square  inches  of  netting  should 
hold  about  two  pounds  of  green  roots,  and  should  last 
for  at  least  five  years  if  properly  cared  for.  The  whole 
dryer  should  not  cost  more  than  ten  dollars  for  time 
and  materials  necessary  to  build  it. 

No  rule  as  to  the  time  required  in  drying  can  be 
given,  since  roots  of  the  same  size  differ  greatly  as  to 


44  TH3   GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

their  time  of  curing ;  solid  and  cultivated  roots  require 
less  time  than  wild  and  spongy  ones.  The  degree  of 
heat  maintained  in  the  dryer,  and  the  volume  of  air  that 
passes  through  it  in  a  given  time,  also  influence  the 
time  required.  Never  try  to  shorten  this  time  by  split- 
ting or  cutting  the  roots.  This  lowers  their  market 
value. 

The  roots  upon,  the  lowest  shelf  will  ordinarily  dry 
first.  Take  them  out,  fill  the  tray  with  fresh  roots  and 
put  it  in  the  dryer  at  the  top,  after  moving  all  the  other 
trays  down  one  notch  toward  the  bottom.  In  this  way 
the  greatest  good  may  be  obtained  from  the  same  quan- 
tity of  heat,  and  the  time  of  drying  may  be  considerably 
reduced.  In  drying,  the  cultivated  roots  suffer  some- 
what less  from  shrinkage  than  the  wild  ones,  which  lose 
about  two-thirds  of  their  weight.  The  former  are, 
therefore,  more  profitable  to  dry. 

The  fibrous  matter,  which  is  usually  more  abundant 
upon  the  cultivated  than  upon  the  wild  root,  will  of 
course  become  brittle  long  before  the  root  itself  becomes 
dry.  This  is  of  no  value  for  export,  and,  if  left  on, 
as  it  generally  is  by  the  southern  diggers,  reduces  the 
price  paid  for  the  article.  It  must  therefore  be  trimmed 
off,  by  rubbing  the  roots  gently  between  the  hands. 
When  smooth,  return  the  trimmed  roots  to  the  dryer  to 
become  completely  dry.  Save  the  trimmings,  however, 
since  they  may  often  be  sold  at  the  drug  stores  for 
enough  to  pay  the  cost  of  trimming,  or  even  more. 
They  are  used  to  supply  the  people  who  like  to  chew- 
ginseng.  A  dried  and  trimmed  root  is  shown  in  Fig.  14. 

When  the  large  roots  have  become  as  dry  as  a  bone 
and  are  perfectly  cool,  put  them  in  paper  sacks  or  clean 
boxes  to  await  shipment.  This  should  take  place  as 
early  as  possible,  provided  a  good  price  may  be  obtained, 
because  if  kept  for  any  great  length  of  time  there  is 
danger  of  their  becoming  infested  with  boring  beetles. 


PREPARATION  FOR  MARKET. 


These  little  creatures  would  soon  ruin  the  roots  com- 
pletely if  allowed  entrance.     If  the  roots,  owing  to  low 


FIG.    14       DHIKD  ROOT. 


market  prices,   must  be  kept  from  one  season  to  the 
next,  they  should  be  put  in  tight  tins  or  glass  jars,  so  as 


46  THE   GINSENG   INDUSTRY. 

to  prevent  the  entrance  of  the  beetles.  The  quality  of 
the  roots  is  not  injured  by  being  kept  over  from  one 
season  to  the  next.  Not  even  an  expert  would  know 
the  difference  between  the  freshly  dried  root  and  that 
dried  a  year  or  two  earlier. 

Should  insects,  by  any  accident,  obtain  entrance, 
put  the  roots  in  a  tight  can  and  place  a  small  cup  in  the 
top.  Pour  some  carbon  bisulphide  into  the  cup,  about 
a  tablespoonful  for  a  two-gallon  can.  Close  the  vessel 
up  tight  for,  say,  a  week.  Carbon  bisulphide  is  a  liquid 
that  quickly  becomes  a  gas  of  very  poisonous  properties. 
It  must  never  be  handled  at  night,  and  no  light  of  any 
kind  must  be  allowed  near  it,  because  it  is  as  inflamma- 
ble as  gunpowder.  If  ginseng  be  properly  taken  care 
of,  however,  there  will  be  but  little  need  of  this  poison 
being  used  upon  it. 

In  shipping,  be  sure  to  separate  the  roots  into 
grades,  depending  upon  size,  smoothness  and  weight, 
the  largest  being  by  themselves,  and  the  smallest  by 
themselves,  in  clean  packages.  This  gradingjvill  often 
pay  for  the  actual  work  two  or  three- tiffies'^jK  whereas, 
if  it  be  not  done  the  roots  /will  seJJ^  at  a$BK  the  price 
that  the  smallest ^nad-e  shoa^prjiA^  mark  every 

quantity,  and  your  nam^dA^SSress.     Pack  the  bags 
'or  small  J^Oj^j^^BwglJvBj^arge,  strong  boxes,  so  as  to 
e  of  the  roots  while  being  handled 
way  to  market.     Address  the  box  to  the  best 
dealer  in  ginseng  that  you  know. 

Above  all  things,  have  everything  clean,  roots,  bags 
and  boxes.  It  will  pay  well. 

PROFITS. 

The  reader  is  by  this  time  more  than  curious  to 
know  what  money  may  be  made  in  the  growing  of  this 
crop,  and  first  asks  as  to  the  demand.  According  to 
official  commerce  reports  published  by  the  Bureau  of 


PROFITS. 


47 


Statistics  of  the  United   States  Treasury  Department, 
we  exported  during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 


YEAR. 

Pounds. 

Valued  at. 

Average  per  Ib. 

1858 

366,055 

$193,796 

$0.52 

18C8 

370,066 

380,454 

1.02 

1878 

421,395 

497,247 

1.17 

1888 

308,365 

657,358 

2.13 

1889 

271,228 

634,091 

2.33 

1890 

223,113 

605,233 

2.71 

1891 

283,000 

959,998 

3.39 

1892 

228,916 

803,529 

3.51 

1893 

251,205 

792,928 

3.15 

1894 

194,564 

619,114 

3.18 

1895 

233,236 

826,713 

3.54 

1896 

199,436 

770,673 

3.86 

1897 

179,573 

846,686 

4.71 

1898 

174,063 

836,446 

3.66 

These  figures  show  the  great  advance  made  in 
prices  during  the  last  forty  years.  Though  the  quantity 
has  declined,  the  price  has  consiantlj^dvanced.  ^kis 
increase  is  best  sh<(wn  byHhe  exj^}rJs*>Pthe  last-*teve'n 
years.  In  1&98  tbMtaiantity  exported  ^approximately 
only  three^i^^jl^slnpped  in  1888,  but  the  average 
price  perNjtoroKT  >urs  advanced  to  approximately  seven 
times  the  price  offered  in  1858,  and  nearly  one  and 
three-quarter  times  that  of  eleven  years  ago. 

A  glance  at  the  prices  paid  by  the  dealers  will  per- 
haps be  of  greater  interest.  Messrs.  Samuel  Wells  & 
Co.,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  furnished  figures  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  for  the  years  1889  to  1896  inclusive, 
to  which  are  added  those  of  the  years  1897  and  1898 
through  their  courtesy. 


YEAR. 

Fair. 

Choice. 

1889 

$2.40 

$3.40 

1890 

2.75 

4.00 

1891 

2.50 

3.50 

1892 

2.50 

3.50 

1893 

2.25 

3.50 

1894 

2.42 

3.65 

1895 

2.68 

3.75 

1896 

2.97 

3.96 

1897 

2.60 

3.80 

1898 

2.77 

4.64 

48  THE  GINSENG  INDUSTRY. 

These  figures  give  a  general  idea  of  the  ruiL  oi 
prices  paid  by  the  dealers,  but  do  not  show  what  is  paid 
in  the  different  sections  of  the  country.  These,  as  will 
be  seen  from  the  following  table,  vary  greatly.  The 
difference  in  prices  is  due  to  the  actual  quality  of  the 
root,  which  in  the  north  is  generally  solid  and  well 
cleaned,  but  which  in  the  south  is  often  spongy  and 
improperly  prepared  for  market,  both  in  the  washing 
away  of  earth  and  in  the  removal  of  fine  roots.  These 
all  help  to  lower  the  price. 

It  may  here  be  remarked  that  though  the  prices 
paid  for  ginseng  have  been  upon  the  increase,  the  profits 
of  the  collector  have,  in  reality,  been  growing  less,  on 
account  of  the  greater  difficulty  in  obtaining  wild  roots 
of  marketable  size.  It  is,  however,  a  hopeful  sign  for 
the  grower. 

The  table,  which  has  been  compiled  from  the  prices 
offered  in  October,  1898,  by  northern  dealers  in  this 
root,  gives  the  highest  and  lowest  figures  paid  for  roots 
from  the  regions  mentioned.  These  prices  are  based 
upon  the  quality  of  the  root,  and  it  is  no  uncommon 
thing  for  higher  prices  than  are  mentioned  in  this  table 
to  be  paid  for  exceptionally  fine  samples  such  as  ginseng 
cultivators  have  to  offer. 

New  York,  Vermont,  Delaware  and  Canadian,  $5.00  $5.50 

Michigan  and  Northern  Pennsylvania,  4.50  5.25 

Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  Minnesota,  3.50  4.50 

Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois,  3.50  4.00 

West  Virginia  and.  Southern  Pennsylvania,  3.00  4.50 

Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  2.75  3.10 

The  prices  offered  in  southern  markets  could  not  be 
obtained,  as  no  southern  dealers  are  known  to  the  writer. 
It  is  probable,  however,  that  they  offer  somewhat  higher 
prices  than  northern  dealers  can  afford  to  give  for  south- 
ern root.  As  a  rule,  the  price  paid  for  the  southern 
article  in  the  northern  markets  is  lower  than  for  northern- 
grown  ginseng. 

The  above  table  mentions  nothing  of  the  prices  paid 


PROFITS.  49 

for  the  cultivated  root,  the  supply  as  yet  being  too  small 
to  quote  separately.  It  may,  therefore,  be  interesting 
to  examine  the  results  attained  by  Mr.  George  Stanton, 
the  pioneer  grower  of  this  root  in  America.  He  fur- 
nished the  following  details  to  American  Agriculturist: 

"The  season  of  1898  was  fairly  favorable  for  ginseng 
culture,  though  the  early  part  of  the  season  was  rather 
wet,  which  resulted  in  some  loss  of  planjbs  and  roots 
from  rot,  while  drouth  in  June  and  July  was  unfavor- 
able to  best  development  of  seed  crop.  But  taken  alto- 
gether, I  have  no  reason  to  complain.  Plants  in  garden 
were  splendid,  many  thousand  standing  20  to. 30  inches 
high,  spreading  20  to  28  inches  from  tip  to  tip  of  leaves, 
with  magnificent  seed  heads,  presenting  a  very  showy 
appearance  when  ripening ;  plants  with  20  and  25  leaflets 
predominating,  and  a  considerable  number  of  roots  pro- 
ducing twin  plants.  One  root  taken  up  in  the  fall  of 
'97  weighed  five  ounces,  and  had  germs  [buds]  for  five 
separate  and  distinct  plants.  I  put  it  back  into  the 
ground,  and  the  past  season  it  sent  up  five  nice  plants 
with  five  perfect  seed  heads.  Shall  let  it  grow  three  or 
four  seasons  and  note  results.  Four  plants  to  one  root 
is  the  most  I  bad  ever  observed  before. 

"Ginseng  responds  to  good  treatment.  The  seed 
crop  from  less  than  24  rods  of  ground  was  about  30 
pounds,  or  about  240,000  seeds.  I  have,  at  present  time, 
about  30  square  rods  of  ground  stocked  with  root  in 
garden  under  artificial  shade,  about  75,000  seedling 
roots  in  forest  nursery,  and  about  120,000  seeds  to  be 
sown  next  fall  to  produce  plants  in  spring  of  1900. 

"My  grounds,  up  to  present  time,  have  produced 
165  pounds  of  dry,  marketable  root,  which  sold  for 
$900,  the  product  of  less  than  10  square  rods  of  ground 
in  11  years.  Not  a  large  showing  for  the  time,  I  admit. 
I  could  have  done  much  better  on  this  line  but  for  the 
demands  for  stock  for  cultivation.  The  crop  of  1898, 
4 


50  THE  GIKSENG   INDUSTRY. 

from  two  and  one-half  square  rods  ground,  was  38  pounds 
dry  root ;  34  pounds  sold  for  $7  per  pound. 

"Ginseng  culture  has  come  to  stay.  Many  planta- 
tions are  starting  up  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States. 
I  made  a  visit  to  the  eastern  part  of  New  York  state 
recently,  where  I  found  quite  a  number  of  cultivators. 
Some  of  them  had  been  engaged  in  the  business  ten 
years.  I  paid  one  party  $66  for  seed,  and  $152  for  his 
crop  of  ginseng  the  past  season.  Also  paid  a  lady  in 
Wisconsin  $38  for  seed,  and  $11  to  another  in  New 
York  state  for  cultivated  ginseng.  I  give  these  facts  to 
show  that  others  can  make,  and  are  making,  a  success  of 
ginseng  culture." 

Of  course  this  is  a  somewhat  remarkable  showing. 
It  owes  much  of  its  success  to  the  untiring  efforts  and 
wide  experience  of  Mr.  Stanton.  Still,  by  following 
carefully  the  instructions  given  in  this  book  the  beginner 
should,  barring  accident,  be  able  to  make  a  good  profit. 
It  is,  however,  well  to  be  cautious  and  patient,  and  to 
be  content  to  extend  the  plantation  as  experience  dic- 
tates, rather  than  to  rush  into  the  business  upon  a  large 
scale  without  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  details  essen- 
tial to  its  success.  It  is,  consequently,  unsafe  to  take 
the  figures  given  above,  and  to  calculate  from  them  the 
probable  returns  per  acre. 

There  is  great  promise  in  the  industry.  Though 
Chinese  ginseng  is  considered  by  the  Chinese  as  superior 
to  the  American  variety,  there  is,  nevertheless,  a  steady 
sale  for  the  latter.  The  demand  is  large ;  the  natural 
supply  is  inadequate,  and  decreasing ;  the  cultivated 
beds  are  not  being  extended  fast  enough  to  supply  the 
deficiency  in  the  wild  root ;  the  price  is  consequently 
high  and  likely  to  rise  still  higher,  and,  should  a  glut 
occur,  a  very  unlikely  contingency  under  the  conditions 
that  have  prevailed  for  some  years,  or  should  lower 
prices  rule  for  a  time,  there  need  be  no  cause  for  alarm. 


PKOFITS.  51 

Leave  the  plants  right  in  the  beds  and  they  will  continue 
to  improve  in  both  size  and  quality,  and  will  be  worth 
more  when  they  are  offered  for  sale. 

These  considerations  have  much  in  them  that  should 
appeal  to  the  would-be  ginseng  grower, — more  forcibly 
than  many  other  crops  could.  It  is,  therefore,  safe  to 
conclude  that  with  proper  attention  to  the  few  necessary 
details — for  they  are  in  reality  few  in  number  when 
compared  with  those  of  many  other  crops — good  profits 
may  be  made  in  the  growing  and  the  marketing  of 
American  ginseng. 


PART  TWO. 

PRESENT  STATUS  OF  THE  GINSENG 
INDUSTRY. 


PRESENT  STATUS  OF  THE 
INDUSTRY. 


BOTANY    OF    THE    PLANT. 

Since  the  writing  of  Part  I,  the  most  important 
peculiarity  that  has  been  discovered  in  the  ginseng 
plant  is  the  occasional  development  of  sterile  blossoms. 
Professor  Carman,  Botanist  of  the  Agricultural  Ex- 
periment Station  of  Kentucky,  states  the  case  clearly 
in  the  following  letter  published  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Sears 
in  a  recent  circular :  "The  ginseng  you  have  sent  me 
appears  to  be  the  same  species  as  that  grown  by  you. 
Only  one  botanical  species  is  recognized  in  this  coun- 
try, unless  we  include  the  small  species  with  globular 
root,  mentioned  in  my  bulletin.  The  truth  appears  to 
be  that  Panax  quinquefolium  sometimes  produces  sep- 
arate staminate  and  pistillate  flowers  and  if  one 
happens  to  get  the  staminate  only  he  will  of  course  get 
no  fruit.  Your  plants  appear  to  bear  perfect  flowers, 
that  is,  with  both  stamens  and  pistils  in  the  same 
flower,  and  hence  they  produce  berries  whether  other 
plants  are  near  them  or  not." 

Under  what  conditions  staminate  or  male  plants 
appear  in  a  plantation  is  not  yet  determined,  but  that 
they  do  appear  and  are  not  uncommon  is  a  fact  that 
should  lead  to  careful  observation  on  the  part  of  grow- 
ers. If  the  discovery  be  made  as  to  peculiarities  of 
soil,  fertilizers,  management  or  other  conditions  that 
produce  them,  the  grower  may  have  the  control  in  his 
own  hands  so  that  he  may  or  may  not  obtain  seed  as 
he  desires.  With  seed  at  present  prices  the  discovery 


50  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 

of  the  causes  that  influence  the  production  of  male 
plants  should  alone  be  sufficient  spur  to  make  growers 
take  careful  observations.  But  the  discovery  may  be 
of  still  greater  value  after  the  decline  of  the  exorbitant 
prices  for  seed  and  plantlets — when  the  business  settles 
from  its  present  nursery  basis  to  a  basis  founded  upon 
the  market  value  of  the  dried  root. 

To  judge  from  the  behavior  of  asparagus  and 
some  other  plants  in  which  the  staminate  individuals 
are  more  productive  than  the  pistillate,  or  at  least  are 
so  claimed  to  be  by  growers,  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  the  staminate  ginseng  plants  might  produce  larger 
roots  than  pistillate  plants.  It  seems  logical  to  con- 
clude that  the  plant  that  bears  a  full  crop  of  berries 
should  not  at  the  same  time  produce  a  large  root  and 


FIG    15.      MAP    SHOWING    THE    NATURAL    RANGE    OF    THE    GINSENG 
PLANT    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES 

also  that  the  plant  that  does  not  produce  berries  should 
direct  its  extra  energies  to  increasing  the  size  of  its 
root.  At  any  rate,  the  matter  is  one  well  worth  the 
while  of  every  grower  to  determine  for  himself. 


BOTANY    OF    THE    PLANT.  57 

In  this  connection  also  it  may  be  well  to  call  atten- 
tion here  to  Mr.  Stanton's  statements  with  respect  to 
pinching  off  the  blossoms.  There  is  not  the  slightest 
doubt  that  Mr.  Stanton  is  correct.  But,  the  pinching 
must  be  done,  as  Mr.  Stanton  says,  while  the  flower- 
head  is  scarcely  more  than  a  bud. 

The  natural  range  of  ginseng  in  the  United  States 
is  shown  in  the  accompanying  map  (Fig.  15),  pre- 
pared by  the  author  for  the  Division  of  Botany,  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture.  The  shaded  por- 
tion shows  the  natural  range  of  ginseng. 

Mr.  Sears  says  in  one  of  his  circulars  that  "on 
some  seed-heads  one  or  two  rows  of  berries  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  head  will  get  ripe  first,  and  with  a  little  care 
they  may  be  gathered  without  knocking  off  any  that 
are  green."  Other  growers  think  this  is  a  risky  opera- 
tion because  green  berries  may  be  knocked  off. 

Some  readers  have  had  difficulty  in  understanding 
the  sentence  commencing  "The  whole  work  of  the 
plant"  (see  top  of  Page  8).  The  matter  may  be  made 
clearer  by  the  following  sentence:  During  each  year 
of  the  first  three  years  the  energies  of  the  plant  are 
employed  in  developing  the  solitary  bud  that  produces 
the  stem  and  leaves  of  each  ensuing  year. 

"Many  growers  report  that  their  roots,  coming 
from  the  South,  will  not  ripen  their  seed  in  this  State." 
We  do  not  know  where  the  absurd  idea  that  southern 
ginseng  could  not  thrive  in  the  North,  or  vice  versa, 
ever  got  a  foothold  in  an  intelligent  mind.  Of  course 
the  changing  of  climatic  conditions  will  disarrange 
the  growth  of  the  plant  temporarily,  but  just  as  soon 
as  the  plant  gets  accustomed  to  its  new  surroundings 
it  will  partake  of  the  characteristics  of  that  section, 
and  it  is  all  false  to  claim  that  it  will  not  thrive.  If  it 
does  not  thrive  it  means  inattention  or  ignorance  on 
the  part  of  the  cultivator. 

In  comment  on  the  above  quotations  and  also 


58  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 

upon  a  similar  item  which  appears  in  a  communication 
from  Mr.  Payson  it  may  be  well  to  call  attention  to  the 
fact  that  southern  grown  plants  of  the  same  species 
and  even  of  the  same  variety  are  slower  in  reaching 
maturity  than  when  grown  in  the  North,  because  the 
southern  season  is  longer  than  the  northern.  Two  in- 
stances will  illustrate  these  points :  Southern  corn 
brought  to  Michigan  direct  from  the  Gulf  States  could 
not  be  made  to  ripen  its  seed ;  but  when  planted  for  a 
series  of  years  at  places  removed  each  year  or  so  far- 
ther and  farther  from  the  South,  seed  was  obtained  at 
last  from  plants  grown  in  Michigan.  The  reverse  is 
true  of  Michigan  corn  taken  to  the  South;  it  grows 
rapidly  and  ripens  its  seed  !«<  in  advance  of  the  south- 
ern varieties  planted  at  the  same  time,  but  in  a  few 
years  it  loses  its  earliness  and  becomes  like  other  south  • 
ern  varieties. 

With  ginseng  it  is  the  same;  the  character  of  the 
plant  will  appear  in  the  seedlings  and  will  disappear 
only  after  these  or  their  descendants  have  been  grown 
for  a  series  of  years  under  the  changed  surroundings. 
The  change  is  merely  an  adaptation  to  climatic  condi- 
tions. It  would  be  well,  therefore,  to  buy  seeds  and 
plants,  not  merely  that  have  been  grown  in  the 
North,  but  that  have  been  grown  in  the  North  from 
northern  seed.  It  seems  probable  that  the  New  York 
plants  referred  to  by  Mr.  Payson  were  grown  from 
southern  seed  planted  in  New  York  State.  The  dif- 
ference of  three  weeks  between  the  time  of  ripening 
of  their  seed  and  the  seed  of  Canadian  plants  treated 
like  them,  seems  too  great  to  be  accounted  for  in  any 
other  way,  New  York  and  Southern  Ontario  being 
approximately  alike  in  climate. 

HOW  TO  BEGIN 

It  will  be  noticed  in  reading  the  letters  from 
growers  in  connection  with  what  is  said  on  Page  14, 


HOW   TO   BEGIN.  59 

that  practice  favors  autumn  planting.  Mr.  Payson 
modifies  the  method  of  stratifying  seed  mentioned  on 
Page  17,  by  having  his  boxes  shallow  for  the  reason 
that  some  of  the  seeds  germinate  in  the  spring  follow- 
ing their  harvest.  This  seems  good  practice.  As  to 
stratifying  berries  or  only  the  seed,  growers  disagree. 
There  seems  no  reason  to  suppose  that  either  method 
is  likely  to  result  unfavorably. 

A  word  to  all  seems  necessary  as  to  the  so-called 
"water  test"  for  the  goodness  of  seed.  The  assump- 
tion is  that  when  seed  is  dropped  in  water  the  good 
will  sink  and  the  bad  will  float.  It  does  not  follow, 
however,  that  the  heavy  is  necessarily  good  nor  that 
the  light  is  necessarily  bad.  A  careful  test  of  many 
kinds  of  seeds  adapted  to  this  method  will  show  that 
many  of  the  seeds  that  float  will  remain  at  the  sur- 
face because  a  tiny  bubble  holds  them  there.  And 
many  more  will  float  because  they  are  dry.  Those 
that  sink  may  do  so  because  they  are  specifically 
heavier  than  water.  This  matter  is  brought  up  not 
to  cast  any  discredit  upon  the  water  test  nor  upon 
the  men  that  advertise  that  they  use  it,  but  to 
emphasize  the  fact  that  among  the  floating  seeds  will 
probably  be  found  many  that  will  produce  plants,  as 
also  among  the  heavy  ones  seeds  that  will  not.  If  the 
dealer  wish  to  be  scrupulously  honest  let  him  sell  the 
heavier  seeds  and  plant  the  light  ones — just  for  fun. 
No  one  can  .deny  him  this  little  pleasure. 

SOIL 

In  reference  to  the  natural  home  of  the  plant  and 
to  the  soil  (discussed  on  Pages  14  and  19)  a  good  piece 
of  evidence  is  furnished  by  the  Reverend  W.  H.  Kerr, 
of  Crawf  ordsville,  Indiana.  He  also  describes  a  handy 
tool  for  the  digging  of  wild  ginseng.  The  quotation 
is  from  Special  Crops  and  serves  to  emphasize  what 
will  be  said  under  "Adulteration  and  Fraud"  con- 


60  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

tradicting  the  statements  of  certain  persons  concerning 
the  places  where  ginseng  will  grow.  Mr.  Eraser  also 
mentions  something  of  the  same  kind  in  his  letter  on  a 
succeeding  page. 

"There  were  professional  'sang  diggers/  who 
for  the  purpose  [of  digging]  used  a  small  hoe,  about 
one  and  one-half  inches  wide,  by  five  in  length,  with  a 
handle  two  feet  long.  The  hoe  was  made  narrow,  to 
enable  the  operator  to  extract  the  root  whole  from 
between  the  roots  of  the  trees  where  it  was  so  often 
found.  I  never  saw  it  growing  on  the  mountain  tops, 
nor  in  the  swamps,  nor  in  the  open,  or  among  the 
weeds,  but  in  well-drained,  rich,  loose  soil,  beneath 
dense  foliage.  The  green  root  was  prepared  for  market 
by  being  strung  on  threads  and  hung  by  the  old- 
fashioned  log  fire  in  the  kitchen  until  thoroughly 
dried." 

In  his  circular  of  July,  1900,  Mr.  H.  P.  Kelsey 
describes  a  good  soil  and  the  fundamental  require- 
ments of  ginseng  culture  as  follows :  "The  conditions 
of  culture  may  be  stated  in  a  few  words:  A  rich, 
cool,  loamy,  loose  soil,  shade,  and  a  heavy  mulching  of 
wood  leaves  or  similar  covering  in  autumn,  which  is 
left  on  during  the  next  summer  to  decay  and  conserve 
moisture.  Ginseng  will  thrive  in  almost  any  rich 
garden  soil  if  given  shade,  either  natural  or  artificial, 
moisture  and  constant  cultivation. 

"This  is  the  secret  of  growing  ginseng,  and  al- 
though there  are  many  ways  of  applying  the  above 
principles,  still  if  these  points  are  kept  in  view  there 
can  be  but  little  doubt  of  success ;  where  the  conditions 
do  not  exist  naturally,  they  can  usually  be  artificially 
furnished. 

"For  those  who  intend  planting  on  a  large  scale, 
the  following  suggestions  will  aid  in  making  a  proper 
start.  First,  where  possible,  select  a  cool,  moist  piece 
of  ground,  preferably  level  or  nearly  so,  and  where 


SOIL.  61 

there  is  natural  loam,  or  where  the  ground  is  loose  and 
rich.  Well-rotted  stable  manure  is  good  for  bringing 
up  garden  soil  to  a  proper  condition,  as  is  also  leaf- 
mold,  rotted  sods,  etc.  The  ground  must  be  fertile. 
Sandy  soil,  if  rich  and  moist,  is  not  objectionable,  but 
rather  desirable ;  but  in  any  case  the  drainage  must  be 
good." 

On  another  page  Mr.  Stanton  makes  some  very 
important  statements  concerning  the  soil,  statements 
the  author  wishes  to  strengthen  as  much  as  possible. 
No  crop  can  be  grown  in  continuous  succession  with- 
out gradually  becoming  poorer  and  becoming  more 
subject  to  the  attacks  of  enemies.  A  change  of  soil 
or  a  change  of  crop  upon  the  soil  is  essential.  In 
nature  there  is  a  rotation  of  crops ;  the  lichens,  those 
plants  that  live  on  rocks  and  tree  trunks,  are  followed 
by  mosses,  mosses  by  ferns,  ferns  by  flowering  plants, 
among  which  there  is  a  rotation  also — pines  often  give 
place  to  scrub  oak.  Man  has  been  slow  to  learn  from 
nature,  but  he  has  learned  this  lesson  from  a  master 
that  he  understands  better — his  pocketbook.  It  pays 
to  practice  rotation,  and  to  supply  humus. 

Mr.  Hart  finds  that  humus  may  be  easily  supplied 
by  muck.  He  writes  in  Special  Crops  in  substance  as 
follows : 

"Although  soils  and  locations  varied  greatly,  in 
gardens  where  he  used  the  largest  proportion  of  muck 
the  plants  are  thriving  best,  and  from  previous  results 
he  concludes  that  muck  is  one  of  the  very  best  soils 
to  add  in  preparing  a  bed  for  ginseng."  He  goes  on 
to  say  that :  "The  cultivators  will  find  that  the  soil  is 
one  of  the  most  important  features  in  cultivating  this 
plant  successfully.  Of  course  the  present  cultivators 
are  well  aware  of  this,  and  the  beginner  will  readily 
note  how  important  it  is  that  the  soil  should  contain 
the  elements  essential  to  the  growth  of  the  plants.  A 


62  PRESENT    STATUS    OF     THE     INDUSTRY. 

good  soil  and  a  poor  shade  will  bring  larger  returns 
than  a  poor  soil  and  a  perfect  shade." 

PREPARATION     OF     PERMANENT     BEDS 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  growers  all  favor  arti- 
ficial shade  and  that  the  shade  of  trees  (discussed  on 
Page  23)  is  not  now  advised.  Concerning  the  making 
of  beds  and  shade  Mr.  Kelsey  gives  the  following  terse 
directions : 

"The  beds  may  be  made  either  four  or  six  feet 
wide,  and  any  length,  and  should  always  be  surrounded 
by  boards  firmly  nailed  to  posts,  giving  a  rest  for  the 
lath  shades.  The  boards  used  are  of  ordinary  inch 
boxing,  and  should  extend  two  feet  or  more  from  the 
ground.  Where  six-feet-wide  beds  are  made,  the  lath 
covers  are  made  as  shown  in  the  illustration  (Fig.  16)  ; 
viz.,  four  by  six  feet.  Ordinary  laths  are  nailed  one 
inch  apart  to  six-feet  strips  one  inch  thick  and  two 
inches  wide,  and  then  braced.  Where  the  bed  is  made 
four  feet  wide,  the  laths  are  simply  nailed  to  other  laths 
with  clinching  nails.  The  latter  size,  being  lighter, 
are  the  most  easily  handled  covers,  but  the  larger  beds 
and  shades  are  the  most  economical  of  room  and  lum- 
ber where  the  planting  is  on  an  extended  scale.  These 
lath  covers  are  to  stay  on  all  summer,  to  be  replaced  by 
mulching  and  brush  in  winter.  The  beds  and  subse- 
quent treatment  after  planting  are  the  same  for  both 
seeds  and  plants." 

TREATMENT    OF    SEEDLINGS 

It  is  now  generally  believed  that  the  distances 
recommended  in  the  first  part  of  this  book  for  plant- 
ing are  too  close.  Roots  two  years  old  should  be  set 
not  less  than  six  inches  apart  and  when  four  years  old 
should  be  eight  inches  apart.  If  two-year-old  roots 
are  to  remain  for  more  than  two  years  without  trans- 
planting, they  should  be  given  plenty  of  room  at  the 


TREATMENT  OF  SEEDLINGS. 


63 


start — eight  inches.  Mr.  Kelsey's  method  of  setting  is 
quoted  with  the  only  comment  that  the  distances  are 
too  small  and  that  the  planting  board,  as  also  the 
method  of  planting  recommended  by  Mr.  Fraser,  are, 
in  the  author's  opinion,  less  speedy  and  convenient 
than  the  method  described  and  figured  on  Page  27. 

"After  the  season's  growth,  the  seedlings  should 
be  transplanted  into  permanent  beds  in  the  fall,  after 


FIG  1 6.    KELSEY'S    LATH    SHADE 

the  tops  have  died  down.  Some  prefer  to  wait  till  the 
second  autumn,  but  the  roots  are  more  liable  to  be 
injured,  and  it  is  very  important  that  a  good,  clean  tap 
root  is  preserved,  making  at  maturity  a  larger  and 
more  salable  article,  that  will  command  the  best  price. 
"A  planting  board  (Fig.  17)  is  made  of  three- 
quarter-inch  white  pine,  or  similar  wood,  five  feet  nine 
inches  or  three  feet  nine  inches  long,  and  one  foot 
wide,  to  easily  fit  in  the  four-feet  and  six-feet  beds. 
This  board  is  braced  by  light  strips  tacked  across  the 
ends  and  middle  to  prevent  warping,  and  notches  five 
inches  apart  are  cut  on  the  edges.  A  trench  is  then 


64  PRESENT    STATUS    OF     THE     INDUSTRY. 

opened,  by  using  a  light  spade  and  lifting  the  soil 
away  from  the  board,  the  back  of  the  spade  being  flat 
against  the  edge  of  the  board  on  which  the  planter  is 
standing. 

"The  plants  are  set  at  the  five-inch  intervals,  care 
being  taken  to  see  that  the  roots  are  in  straight,  and 
the  crown  at  least  an  inch  below  the  surface.  Soil  is 
pulled  in  with  the  hand  as  each  plant  is  set,  and  after 
firming  the  row  with  the  foot,  the  bed  is  smoothed  off 
with  a  fine-toothed  rake.  The  middle  of  the  board  is 
then  placed  directly  over  the  row,  and  the  planting  of 
the  next  row  is  proceeded  with.  This  leaves  the  plants 
five  by  six  inches  apart,  each  row  containing  fifteen 
plants  in  a  six-feet-wide  bed.  To  find  out  the  number 
of  plants  such  a  bed  will  hold,  multiply  the  length  of 
the  bed  in  feet  by  thirty. 

"Some  prefer  sowing  the  seeds  singly  in  drills  two 
or  three  inches  apart,  and  at  intervals  of  one  to  two 
inches  apart  in  the  row.  In  this  event  the  same  planting 
board  can  be  used,  only  the  notches  on  one  must  be  cut 
the  required  distance  apart,  the  rows  being  three  inches 
or  less  apart  instead  of  six  inches,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
plants.  It  is  thus  easy  to  figure  out  the  area  required 
for  a  given  number  of  seeds." 

Some  growers,  it  will  be  observed,  recommend  the 
dibble  in  planting  seedlings.  There  are  serious  objec- 


t  1 
I 

FIG    17.     KELSEY'S    PLANTING    BOARD 

tions  to  the  use  of  this  tool ;  first,  it  is  apt  to  harden  the 
soil  close  to  the  main  root  of  the  plant  and  thus  make 
it  difficult  for  the  rootlets  to  penetrate ;  second,  unless 


TREATMENT    OF    SEEDLINGS.  65 

the  tool  be  properly  used  the  plant  may  be  left  sus- 
pended in  a  hole  with  no  chance  to  strike  root  until 
the  hardened  walls  of  the  hole  cave  in.  The  proper 
way  to  use  this  tool  is  to  hang  it  up  in  the  attic,  unless 
the  operator  can  trust  himself  to  press  the  soil  firmly 
around  all  sides  of  each  plant  that  he  sets.  It  seems 
necessary  to  repeat  the  statement  that  roots  frequently 
transplanted  will  be  straighter  than  those  less  often 
transplanted. 

ARTIFICIAL     PROPAGATION 

With  reference  to  artificial  propagation  (see  Page 
30)  it  seems  that  some  growers  have  had  poor  success. 
Probably  when  seed  becomes  cheaper  the  methods  will 
fall  into  disuse,  but  until  that  time  it  may  be  well  to 
remember  that  neither  a  root  without  a  crown  nor  a 
crown  with  only  a  small  portion  of  root  should  be 
thrown  away,  but  that  each  should  be  planted,  because 
there  is  a  chance  that  the  missing  part  may  be  pro- 
duced. Also,  that  some  plants  with  roots  that  meet  at 
a  common  point,  like  that  illustrated  on  Page  12,  may 
be  divided  with  fair  chances  of  obtaining  additional 
plants. 

MANURING 

Several  writers  speak  of  "enriching"  the  soil. 
But  by  this  they  do  not  mean  loading  the  soil  with 
fresh  stable  manure,  nitrate  of  soda  and  all  sorts  of 
nitrogenous  plant  food.  This  practice  would  fill  the 
heart  with  gladness  to  look  at  the  leaves  and  stems,  but 
the  production  of  root  and  of  seed  would  be  disap- 
pointing. No,  they  mean  improve  the  texture  of  the 
soil,  make  the  soil  light  like  the  loam  of  the  woods 
where  wild  flowers  grow.  You  eat  some  sugar  each 
day,  but  what  good  would  you  be  if  your  diet  consisted 
of  nothing  but  sugar?  Balance  up,  friend.  Give 
fresh  ashes,  bone  meal  and  other  fertilizers  containing 
potash  and  phosphoric  acid.  They  will  give  vigor. 

/*W$>\ 

I    UNJVEt        ry   I 


66  PRESENT   STATUS    OF     THE     INDUSTRY. 

The  decay  of  the  humus  you  add  should  supply  all  the 
nitrogen  necessary.  If  not,  it  may  easily  be  added  in 
the  form  of  manure,  or  nitrate  of  soda. 

ENEMIES 

Since  the  preparation  of  the  first  edition,  no  new 
or  specially  troublesome  enemies  have  appeared  in  the 
ginseng  plantations.  Slugs  and  snails  have  caused 
some  damage,  but  it  is  believed  they  may  be  combated 
without  danger  to  the  plants  by  sprinkling  finely  pow- 
dered fresh  quicklime  upon  both  plants  and  beds  as 
soon  as  these  creatures  arrive.  It  tends  to  dry  up  the 
animals  and  thus  destroy  them.  Snails  and  slugs  are 
generally  most  active  during  the  night,  and  should 
their  presence  be  suspected,  the  grower  should  come 
out  after  dark  to  make  inspection.  The  lime  is  not  a 
poison  and  will  not  do  the  soil  any  harm  but,  if  applied 
in  reasonable  quantities,  rather  good. 

Mr.  Stanton  calls  special  attention  to  nematode 
worms  which  attack  the  roots.  These  pests  may  be 
expected  in  any  plantation,  but  fortunately  they  have 
not  spread  very  generally  as  yet.  No  satisfactory 
remedy  has  been  suggested;  the  only  practices  as  yet 
tried  are  heating  the  soil,  or  freezing  it. 

Concerning  the  most  important  enemies  of  gin- 
seng— men,  mice  and  moles — Mr.  Sears  and  Mr.  Kel- 
sey  make  the  following  statements : 

"Moles  must  be  kept  out.  The  best  way  to  get 
rid  of  them  is  to  watch  for  them  and  when  one  of  them 
is  observed  moving  the  soil,  quickly  step  in  behind  it, 
dig  it  out  and  destroy  it.  We  have  a  ground  mouse 
with  a  short  tail  like  that  of  the  mole;  they  eat  the 
roots.  The  only  remedy  I  know  for  them  is  poisoned 
bait.  I  soak  a  few  grains  of  corn  in  water  with  strych- 
nine, drop  in  their  burrows ;  they  follow  in  the  burrows 
made  by  the  mole,  or  work  along  just  beneath  the 
leaves  on  the  beds  in  the  loose  soil,  and  begin  to  eat  on 


ENEMIES.  67 

the  top  of  the  roots.  We  have  but  few  of  them,  two  or 
three  are  all  that  have  ever  given  me  any  trouble.  Then 
we  have  what  is  called  field  or  woods  mice ;  they  eat  the 
seeds  from  the  seed  head  while  the  berries  are  ripen- 
ing; they  do  not  eat  the  seeds  after  they  are  planted. 
Before  the  berries  begin  to  ripen,  I  set  a  few  deadfalls, 
and  in  a  few  nights  I  have  cleared  away  the  mice.  I 
have  noticed  a  little  white  fly  that  sometimes  gets  on 
the  stem  of  some  of  the  plants,  near  the  seed  head ;  they 
can  be  removed  quickly  with  the  thumb  and  finger. 
If  allowed  to  remain  on  the  stem  they  will  cause  it  to 
perish.  I  sometimes  sprinkle  ashes  lightly  on  the 
growing  plants ;  this  I  think  is  a  good  preventive.  We 
have  here  what  is  called  a  ginseng  cricket ;  it  is  of  a 
green  color.  They  are  very  easily  caught  with  the 
hand  and  destroyed.  This  green  cricket  cuts  into  the 
kernel  of  the  ginseng  seed  and  eats  it  before  the  berry 
gets  ripe,  while  green.  In  my  nursery  I  have  but  few, 
if  any,  of  these  pests  to  contend  with;  they  give  me 
but  little  trouble.  Chickens,  pigs,  etc,  must  be  strictly 
kept  out ;  it  will  not  do  to  let  them  in  at  all.  The  gin- 
seng beds  should  be  inclosed  with  a  strong  slat  fence." 

"Unless  secrecy  can  be  maintained  it  will  pay,  as 
a  rule,  to  erect  a  high,  solid  wall  with  barbed  wire  on 
top.  An  electric  wire  can  be  arranged  around  the 
plantation  at  little  cost,  which  will  ring  a  bell  or  bells, 
located  where  desired,  if  an  entry  be  forced.  Any  very 
valuable  article  finds  ready  thieves,  if  unprotected — 
ginseng  being  no  exception  to  the  rule —  but  it  is  amply 
worth  any  expense  incurred  in  protecting  it." 

Diseases  have  been  hinted  at  as  causing  trouble 
in  some  places,  but  none,  so  far  as  the  author  can  learn, 
have  been  identified.  Since  they  are  probably  of  a 
fungous  nature,  however,  and  also  probably  carried 
from  plant  to  plant  by  snails,  slugs  and  insects,  preven- 
tion of  infection  is  the  watchword.  Prevent  infection 
by  keeping  the  snails,  etc.,  in  check  and  prevent  dis- 


68  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

ease  from  gaining  entrance  by  spraying  with  Bordeaux 
mixture  or  some  other  fungicide.  If  the  fungicide  be 
properly  prepared  and  applied,  it  should  be  efficacious. 
The  method  of  making  Bordeaux  mixture  is  as 
follows : 

1.  Put  twenty-five  gallons  of  water  in  a  wooden 
or  crockery  vessel   (not  a  metal  one)   and  hang  five 
pounds  of  copper  sulphate   (blue  stone)   contained  in 
a  cloth  bag  in  the  water,  so  that  the  bottom  of  the  bag 
is  slightly  below  the  surface  of  the  water.    This  is  the 
quickest  way  to  dissolve  the  sulphate.    Don't  dump  the 
sulphate  in  so  that  it  goes  to  the  bottom,  because  this 
is  the  slowest  way  of  all  to  get  it  dissolved. 

2.  In  another  vessel,  slake  four  pounds  of  the 
freshest  and  best  stone  or  shell  lime,  using  only  a  little 
water  until  the  lime  is  dissolved.     Strain  the  liquid 
through  fine  burlap  or  coarse  cloth  and  dilute  with 
water    until    the  total    quantity  of    water    present    is 
twenty-five  gallons. 

3.  These  two  liquids  may  be  mixed  in  the  pro- 
portion of  gallon  for  gallon,  the    lime  solution  being 
stirred   before   mixing,    and   both   thoroughly   stirred 
while  being  mixed  together.    While  being  applied  they 
should  be  kept  stirred  up  to  prevent  settling.     The 
shorter  the  time  between  the  time  of  slaking  the  lime 
and  the  mixing  with  the  sulphate,  and  also  the  shorter 
the  time  between  the  mixing  of  the  two  solutions  and 
applying  to  plants,  the  better,  because  the  particles  will 
not  have  much  chance  to  become  large  and  hard.    The 
finer  the  particles,  the  better. 

4.  When    applied    to    plants    the    finest    nozzle 
obtainable  must  be  used.     The  Vermorel  is  perhaps 
the  best. 

5.  Now,  make  no  mistake:  this  spray  must  be  a 
spray,  not  a  dribble,  nor  a  drizzle,  nor  a  squirt,  but  a 
mist.     It  must  look  like  a  little  fog  at  the  end  of  the 
hose  and  must  reach  every  part  of  the  plant,  partic- 


ENEMIES.  69 

ularly  the  undersides  of  the  leaves,  mind,  just  enough 
so  it  won't  trickle  off.  And  this  must  be  applied  as 
soon  as  the  first  sign  of  disease  is  seen.  It  will  also  be 
good  to  thoroughly  spray  all  posts,  walks,  etc.,  to  kill 
disease  germs  that  may  be  resting  upon  them. 

Let  no  grower  be  surprised  at  the  appearance  of 
diseases.  He  is  largely  responsible  for  them  because 
he  has  taken  the  plant  from  its  natural  surroundings 
and  is  making  it  grow  under  artificial  conditions.  It 
may  be  that  he  is  giving  too  much  shade,  too  little  air, 
too  much  nitrogen,  that  the  plants  are  too  crowded, 
the  soil  too  moist — whatever  the  wrong  condition,  he 
must  find  out  and  correct  it.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  the 
grower  who  most  nearly  approaches  natural  conditions 
will  be  least  troubled  with  disease.  Keep  the  plants 
healthy  by  rational  'feeding,  which  will  tend  to  make 
them  strong  and  to  keep  them  so,  then  by  careful 
spraying,  prevent  the  entrance  of  disease.  Just  think 
of  a  ginseng  disease  as  ginseng  cancer.  When  cancer 
gets  a  start  there  is  no  cure.  Spraying  is  not  a  remedy, 
it  is  a  preventive ;  it  is  an  insurance. 

SELECTION     FOR     IMPROVEMENT 

The  author  is  especially  pleased  to  note  the  inter- 
est that  is  being  taken  in  the  selection  of  ginseng  to 
obtain  improved  varieties.  Not  that  any  marked  im- 
provements such  as  those  mentioned  on  Pages  37-39 
have  been  made,  but  that  the  more  progressive  growers 
are  making  observations  and  drawing  deductions. 

Since  the  writing  of  Part  I  the  most  important 
discovery  perhaps  of  all  in  connection  with  ginseng, 
is  the  fact  that  the  seeds  of  some  plants  and  the  ear- 
liest ripened  seeds  of  others  do  not  always  wait  until 
the  second  spring  to  germinate,  but  sprout  during  the 
first  spring,  thus  saving  a  whole  year's  time.  When 
a  plant  shows  a  tendency  to  hustle  like  this  no  grower 
should  lose  an  opportunity  to  help  it. 


70  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 

This  early  maturing  trait  should  be  taken  advan- 
tage of  as  a  starting.  In  fact  some  enterprising  grow- 
ers are  already  planning  to  develop  varieties  that  will 
always  sprout  during  the  spring  following  the  ripening 
of  the  seed.  Such  improved  varieties  should  be  named 
and  disseminated.  There  is  not  the  slightest  reason 
to  doubt  that  ginseng  can  be  improved  by  selection 
and  cultivation,  in  similar  manner  as  has  been  done 
with  carrots,  beets,  parsnips  and  many  other  cultivated 
crops  that  have  been  developed  from  the  original  wild 
forms. 

The  statements  made  upon  this  subject  in  the  first 
part  are  hereby  emphasized.  But  neither  the  author's 
talking  nor  the  grower's  wondering  about  them  will 
accomplish  anything.  The  way  to  prove  the  truth  of 
the  assertions  is  to  test  them.  Turn  to  Page  38,  read 
and  think  this  matter  over  again,  remembering  during 
the  perusal  that  when  the  prices  of  seeds  and  plants 
fall — as  fall  they  must — the  man  who  has  a  good  vari- 
ety, a  variety  worthy  of  a  name,  may  still  command  a 
high  price — perhaps  not  so  high  as  at  present  is  asked 
— yet  not  so  high  that  his  conscience  will  trouble  him 
for  accepting  it,  because  he  will  be  giving  a  superior 
article  for  the  money.  There  is  no  reason  why  vari- 
eties noted  for  early  sprouting,  early  maturing,  long 
straight  heavy  roots,  ability  to  withstand  disease  better 
than  common  stock,  etc.,  etc.,  should  not  be  advertised 
within  the  next  ten  years  in  the  same  way  that  seeds- 
men advertise  early  and  late,  green  and  yellow  podded, 
black  and  white  seeded  beans.  The  whole  matter  rests 
with  the  grower.  He  should  first  make  himself  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  the  plant  and  its  peculiarities. 
Then,  for  reasons  already  detailed,  he  should  start  his 
improvements  with  the  best  stock  obtainable. 

Considerable  as  have  been  the  improvements  made 
in  the  growing  of  ginseng,  which  twenty  years  ago 
was  not  in  cultivation  in  America,  the  author  believes 


SELECTION    FOR    IMPROVEMENT.  71 

and  confidently  predicts  that  as  great  discoveries  are 
to  be  made  and  improvements  wrought  in  the  busi- 
ness as  have  been  recorded  and  attained  up  to  the 
present  time. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  said  that  a  well  con- 
ducted organization  of  ginseng  growers  and  dealers 
should  be  of  great  benefit  to  the  industry,  since  meth- 
ods of  selecting,  cultivating,  harvesting,  drying,  pack- 
ing and  marketing,  and  other  matters  pertinent  to  the 
ginseng  business  could  be  freely  discussed.  Mr.  E.  C. 
Robertson,  of  Dickson,  Tenn.,  who  seems  to  be  the 
first  to  propose  such  an  organization,  writes  in  the  July 
issue  (1902)  of  Special  Crops  concerning  this  matter 
as  follows : 

"There  is  one  thing  which  I  should  like  to  see 
effected,  and  that  right  soon — an  organization  of  gin- 
seng growers.  Now  is  the  time  to  start  such  an  organ- 
ization while  the  industry  is  in  its  infancy  and  the 
planters  are  comparatively  few.  With  the  right  kind 
of  officers,  the  ginseng  growers  need  have  no  fears 
about  future  prices,  for  the  association  can  control  the 
supply,  and  thereby  the  prices.  Besides,  such  a  move- 
ment will  do  away  with  many  of  the  objectionable 
features  of  handling  the  marketable  roots  in  this  coun- 
try. It  is  one  of  the  most  important  things  for  con- 
sideration at  this  time,  and  I  suggest  an  early  meeting 
of  all  who  are  interested  in  the  growing  of  ginseng 
.  .  .  for  the  perfection  of  plans  and  the  completion 
of  such  an  organization  as  may  be  desired.  After  the 
national  meeting,  the  several  states  can  organize,  and 
then  work  in  harmony  for  the  benefit  of  the  cause." 

Mr.  Sears  publishes  a  recent  letter  from  Wells 
&  Co.  concerning  the  improvement  in  general  market 
ginseng.  The  letter  reads  as  follows :  "The  improve- 
ment in  ginseng  is  most  conspicuously  shown  in  south- 
ern root,  i.  e.,  root  grown  south  of  the  Ohio  river. 
This  is  for  two  reasons:  wild  root  from  the  South  is 


72  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

smaller  in  size  and  more  pithy  in  substance  than  north- 
ern root.  Under  cultivation,  our  observations  so  far 
have  been  that  the  root  is  increased  almost  to  the  size 
of  the  northern  cultivated  root.  However,  the  north- 
ern root  is  much  smoother  on  the  surface  and  we  think 
somewhat  whiter.  This  last  item,  color,  is  influenced 
somewhat  by  the  soil.  Proportionately,  southern  root 
shows  a  greater  improvement  under  cultivation  than 
the  northern;  this  is  partly  due  to  the  inferior  quality 
of  the  wild  root.  We  think  it  can  be  still  further  im- 
proved and  that  it  will  be  further  improved,  as  it  takes 
some  time  to  change  the  characteristics  of  the  plant." 

CULTIVATED    VERSUS    WILD    ROOT 

Comparing  the  statements  of  dealers  and  growers 
one  with  another  and  with  those  of  the  consuls,  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  claims  made  for  cultivated  root  in  Part 
I  (Page  40)  are  being  realized  in  the  small  quantities 
of  cultivated  ginseng  that  are  being  marketed.  The 
statements  which  the  author  made  in  the  place  referred 
to  seem  to  need  no  revision,  since  the  qualities — size, 
weight,  form  and  smoothness — are  found  more  fre- 
quently in  garden  ginseng  than  in  wild.  The  culti- 
vated plants  have  other  advantages  of  which  Mr.  Sears 
speaks  as  follows : 

"In  November,  1900,  I  took  from  my  nursery  fifty 
six-year-old,  cultivated  roots  from  the  seeds ;  their 
weight,  green,  was  eight  pounds ;  dried,  three  and  one- 
sixteenth  pounds,  and  sold  for  a  fraction  over  thirty- 
six  cents  each.  It  will  be  remembered  that  these  roots 
produced  a  fine  crop  of  seed  each  year  after  the  first. 
The  two  best  roots  together  weighed  eight  ounces, 
green ;  when  dried  one  weighed  one  and  one-half 
ounces,  the  other,  one  and  three-fourths.  The  two 
roots  together  sold  for  a  fraction  over  $1.21." 

With  respect  to  cultivated  versus  wild  roots,  Mr. 
Hart  says :  "As  an  illustration — the  wild  roots,  in  gen- 


CULTIVATED    VERSUS    WILD    ROOT.  73 

eral,  collected  from  the  forests,  will  average  an  age  of 
from  eight  to  twenty  years,  and  it  is  seldom  that  the 
cultivator  will  find  these  roots  as  large  as  the  general 
run  of  cultivated  roots  when  they  are  three  years  old. 
Now,  by  planting  these  wild  roots,  they  will,  as  a  rule, 
bear  from  ten  to  twenty  seeds  to  the  plant,  and,  after 
being  planted  for  two  years,  may  attain  a  weight  of 
from  two  and  one-half  to  three  ounces,  green — while 
the  cultivated  roots,  under  favorable  conditions,  should 
bear  from  sixty  to  eighty  seeds  to  the  plant  the  fourth 
year,  and  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-five thereafter,  and  will  attain  a  weight  of  from  four 
to  five  ounces,  green,  at  five  years  old.  Now,  I  do  not 
wish  my  readers  to  think  that  an  entire  garden  of  gin- 
seng will  bear  this  amount  of  seed  each  season,  for 
every  plant  does  not  bear  seed  every  year,  and  in  dig- 
ging up  a  garden,  while  a  majority  of  the  plants  will 
have  attained  this  large  development,  a  portion  of  them 
must  be  graded  out  and  replanted;  not  that  they  are 
not  marketable,  but  because  it  is  more  profitable  to  let 
them  remain  for  another  season  or  two." 

In  general,  the  case  of  cultivated  ginseng  seems 
to  be  won,  but  there  are  little  points  that  must  not  be 
overlooked ;  namely,  there  is  likely  to  be  an  overstim- 
ulation  of  seed  production  as  long  as  high  prices 
persist  (see  letters  from  Messrs.  Eisenhauer,  Wells 
and  Stanton)  which  will  tend  to  impair  root  develop- 
ment; the  product  of  different  growers  is  likely  to 
be  variable  until  definite  methods  of  growing  are 
agreed  upon  and  definite  grades  of  product  made ;  the 
cultivated  roots  are  likely  to  lack  a  flavor  that  the  wild 
root  possesses  (see  letter  from  Messrs.  Eisenhauer  & 
Co.)  or,  what  amounts  to  the  same  thing,  to  possess  a 
flavor  that  the  wild  root  lacks,  so  that  the  final  pur- 
chaser may  not  fancy  it.  Now  is  the  time,  therefore, 
to  establish  control  of  the  plant  and  to  make  it  meet 
the  oriental  requirements. 


74  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 

In  this  connection  several  hints  are  furnished  by 
the  consuls,  and  others  by  Mr.  T.  B.  Cunningham,  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  who  has  spent  several  years  in  Hong 
Kong,  being  connected  with  the  exporting  trade,  and 
who  is  enthusiastic  over  the  cultivation  of  ginseng  in 
America.  Mr.  Cunningham  stated,  during  an  inter- 
view with  Mr.  Hart,  "that  he  did  not  believe  too  much 
pains  could  be  taken  in  perfecting  the  American  article 
to  the  highest  standard,  in  order  to  maintain  the  great 
demand  for  the  American  root  in  China.  Therefore, 
it  seems  prudent  for  the  present  cultivators  to  exercise 
the  greatest  care  in  cultivating,  preparing  for  market 
and  marketing  this  product,  knowing  that  the  Chinese 
are  very  cautious  in  their  dealings,  and  that  it  would  be 
much  easier  to  depreciate  the  market  with '  inferior 
quality  roots  than  it  would  be  to  regain  the  confidence 
of  the  Chinese  after  such  harm  had  been  done." 

It  seems  only  necessary  to  add  that  the  production 
of  a  good  quality  of  root  is  not  the  last  stage;  there 
is  yet  the  marketing,  which,  at  present,  is  far  too  care- 
lessly performed.  If  the  reader  feel  a  doubt  as  to  this, 
let  him  look  in  the  nearest  grocery  store  at  the  pack- 
ages of  breakfast  foods.  These  products  are  made 
from  the  same  grains  as  the  now  unsalable,  old-fash- 
ioned oatmeal  and  graham  flour  of  our  grandfathers' 
days.  The  principal  reason  that  the  new  materials  sell 
and  the  old  do  not,  is  that  the  former  please  the  eye — 
"they  look  good."  In  the  sale  of  ginseng  the  case  is 
the  same.  The  Chinese  customer  is  like  the  American 
customer ;  he  won't  hunt  all  over  town  to  find  the 
dirtiest  ginseng  he  can  get,  and  then  force  a  high  price 
upon  the  dealer  as  a  premium  for  dirtiness.  The  Chi- 
nese appreciate  cleanliness,  neatness  and  attractiveness 
more  than  they  are  supposed  to.  Neat,  clean  boxes 
lined  with  clean  paper  and  filled  with  clean,  unbroken 
roots  will  attract  customers  who  will  be  willing  to  pay 
advanced  prices  for  articles  that  look  well. 


CLARIFICATION.  75 

Since  nothing  is  mentioned  in  the  first  edition 
concerning  clarification,  and  since  there  seems  to  be 
a  growing  interest  in  the  process  and  the  product,  the 
following  paragraphs  are  quoted  from  Bulletin  16  of 
the  Division  of  Botany : 

"A  process  employed  by  the  Chinese  to  produce  a 
yellowish  translucent  appearance  in  the  -ginseng  root, 
which  adds  to  its  value  in  their  estimation,  is  thus 
described  by  Father  Jartoux : 

"  They  take  care  to  wash  it  well  and  cleanse  it  with 
a  brush  from  all  extraneous  matter.  Then  they^orprit 
into  scalding  water,  and  prepare  it  in  the  fume  of  a 
sort  of  yellow  millet,  which  communicates  to  it  a  part 
of  its  color.  The  millet  is  put  into  a  vessel  with  a  little 
water,  and  boils  over  a  gentle  fire;  the  roots  are  laid 
upon  small  transverse  pieces  of  wood  over  the  vessel, 
and  are  thus  prepared,  being  covered  with  a  linen  cloth 
or  some  other  vessel  placed  over  them.  They  may  also 
be  dried  in  the  sun  or  by  the  fire ;  but  then,  though  they 
retain  their  virtue  well  enough,  yet  they  have  not  that 
yellow  color  which  the  Chinese  so  much  admire. 
When  the  roots  are  dried,  they  must  be  kept  close  in 
some  very  dry  place;  otherwise  they  are  in  danger  of 
corrupting  or  being  eaten  by  worms/ 

"Another  authority,  referring  apparently  to  the 
same  Chinese  custom,  states :  'It  is  cured  by  steaming 
in  a  steaming  basket.  If  intended  for  use  in  the  South, 
sugar  is  added ;  if  for  use  in  the  North,  no  sugar/ 

"The  clarifying  process  is  thus  described  by  Mr. 
Foulk:  'Soon  after  the  seeds  have  been  gathered  in 
October  the  plants  and  roots  intact  are  carefully  taken 
from  the  earth.  The  stems  are  readily  broken  off,  the 
roots  washed,  placed  in  small  baskets  with  large 
meshes,  and  at  once  taken  to  the  steaming  house. 
Here  are  flat,  shallow  iron  boilers  over  fireplaces,  over 
which  are  earthenware  vessels,  two  feet  in  diameter 
and  as  many  high,  with  close-fitting  lids.  In  the  hot- 


76  PRESENT    STATUS    OF     THE     INDUSTRY. 

toms  of  the  earthenware  vessels  are  five  holes  two 
inches  in  diameter.  Water  is  boiled  in  the  iron  vessels, 
the  steam  rising  and  filling  the  upper  vessels  through 
these  holes. 

"  'The  small  baskets  containing  the  roots  having 
been  placed  in  the  earthen  vessel  and  the  latter  tightly 
closed,  the  steaming  process  goes  on  for  from  one  and 
a  half  to  four  hours,  when  the  roots  are  removed  and 
taken  to  the  drying  house.  This  is  a  long  building 
containing  racks  of  bamboo  poles,  on  which  in  rows 
are  placed  flat  drying  baskets.  Under  the  floor  of  the 
house,  at  intervals  of  three  or  four  feet,  are  fireplaces, 
the  smoke  from  which  passes  out  of  small  holes  in  the 
back  of  the  house  under  the  floor  level.  In  the  baskets 
of  the  drying  house  the  roots  are  spread  and  the  fires 
kept  going  constantly  for  about  ten  days,  when  the 
roots  are  supposed  to  be  cured.  From  here  they  are 
packed  for  the  market  in  rectangular  willow  baskets 
closely  lined  with  paper  to  exclude  moisture. 

"  'During  this  process  the  roots  become  very 
toughly  hard,  and  their  color  changes  from  carroty 
white  to  nearly  a  cherrywood  red.  They  break  hard 
but  crisply,  exhibiting  a  shiny,  glassy  fracture,  trans- 
lucent, dark  red.  The  ginseng  resulting  from  this 
process  is  called  hong-sam  (red  ginseng),  and  is  the 
article  prohibited  from  export  from  Korea  in  all  the 
treaties  made  by  Korea  with  the  western  powers.  It 
is  the  most  common  ginseng  seen  in  Korea  and  by  far 
the  majority  of  it  is  produced  in  the  Songto  section.' 

"The  treatment  last  described  is  doubtless  that 
which  is  most  properly  called  'clarification/  since 
specimens  purchased  in  Korea,  through  the  Depart- 
ment of  State,  and  now  in  the  pharmacological  collec- 
tion of  the  Division  of  Botany,  answer  the  description 
given  by  Mr.  Foulk.  Similar  specimens  were  also  seen 
in  Mr.  Stanton's  museum.  Doubtless  American  skill 
can  produce  an  article  by  some  such  method  which 


CLARIFICATION.  77 

would  be  acceptable  to  the  Chinese,  but  k  would  hardly 
be  wise  to  undertake  steaming  on  a  large  scale  without 
fuller  information  or  careful  experiment." 

Messrs.  A.  C.  Hartzell  &  Co.,  Addison,  Pa., 
describe  their  method  as  follows :  "Wash  the  roots 
nice  and  clean,  put  water  in  some  kind  of  a  boiler  or 
kettle,  put  the  ginseng  in  a  sack  and  place  in  the  kettle, 
cover  so  as  to  keep  in  the  steam,  being  careful  not  to 
let  the  ginseng  get  in  the  water.  Steam  for  three  to 
four  hours,  or  until  soft ;  take  out  and  dry.  The  gin- 
seng must  be  green  and  not  over  a  week  old,  and  if 
kept  a  week  it  should  be  damp  so  it  does  not  start  to 
dry,  as  this  will  not  make  nice,  clear  ginseng.  We 
have  handled  thousands  of  pounds  in  this  way,  clarify- 
ing some  years  as  much  as  fifteen  to  twenty  thousands 
green." 

PROFITS 

The  author  believes  that  the  evidence  presented 
in  the  section  "Profits"  in  Part  I  is  so  strong  in  itself 
that  he  need  say  little.  It  will  doubtless  be  matter  for 
surprise  to  most  readers  to  learn  the  facts  contained  in 
the  first  letter  quoted :  namely,  that  Canada  has  no 
export  trade  in  ginseng.  By  referring  to  Page  3  it  will 
be  seen  that  nearly  two  hundred  years  have  elapsed 
since  American  ginseng  was  discovered,  and  that  the 
discovery  was  made  near  Montreal,  Canada.  The 
price  paid  for  exported  Canadian  root  rose  to  more 
than  five  dollars  a  pound,  but  now  the  Canadian  article 
is  unknown  in  China.  Whether  the  injury  done  in  1752 
by  the  shipment  of  inferior  root  is  so  well  remembered 
by  the  Chinese  merchants  that  they  no  longer  call  for 
Canadian  ginseng,  but  rather  shun  it,  or  whether  the 
root  in  Canada  is  actually  becoming  extinct,  the  author 
cannot  say.  He  inclines  to  the  latter  view.  He  can 
say,  however,  that  the  openings  for  a  profitable  indus- 
try in  Canada  are  excellent.  It  may  be  that  direct 


78  PRESENT   STATUS     OP     THE     INDUSTRY. 

exportation  might  not  be  favored  by  the  Chinese  and 
that  the  Canadian  product  would  have  to  reach  China 
as  American  root.  But  even  so,  neither  the  Canadian 
exporter  nor  his  product  should  suffer.  Turn  about 
is  fair  play;  certain  American  products  are  sent  abroad 
from  Canadian  ports  as  Canadian ! 

The  letter  referred  to  above  was  written  to  Mr. 
James  Fletcher,  Botanist  of  the  Dominion  Experi- 
mental Farm,  by  Mr.  George  Johnson,  Statistician  of 
the  Canadian  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Ottawa, 
Ontario,  Canada.  "I  have  to  say  that  Canada  is  an 
importer  to  a  small  extent  of  ginseng,  and  my  belief 
is  that  it  is  pretty  well  run  out.  At  any  rate  our  trade 
returns  do  not  indicate  that  we  exported  any  in  recent 
years.  Possibly  there  is  a  small  quantity  exported, 
but  not  likely.  My  recollection,  so  far  as  Canada  is 
concerned,  is  that  we  produced  quite  a  quantity  at  one 
time  and  that  it  was  very  good.  It  would  be,  I  should 
think,  worth  while  if  the  Experimental  Farms  would 
inquire  into  the  causes  of  the  abandonment  of  the 
ginseng  trade  in  Canada.  It  certainly  was  not  because 
the  quality  was  poor,  because  China  thought  well  of  it, 
and  it  was  not  because  the  supply  was  greater  than  the 
demand,  as  for  some  years  back  there  has  been  a  ten- 
dency to  an  increase  in  the  price.  We  ought  certainly 
to  have  a  good  trade  in  ginseng  with  China." 

In  proof  that  the  American  supply  of  wild  ginseng 
is  declining,  the  statements  made  on  Page  13  and  the 
table  of  exports  on  Page  47  find  additional  support  in 
the  following  letter  from  Messrs.  A.  C.  Hartzell  &  Co. : 

"We  have  been  in  the  ginseng  business  for  over 
fifty  years,  and  have  bought  as  much  as  130,000 
pounds  in  one  season,  but  of  course,  that  was  some 
years  ago;  and  we  have  in  fifty  years  handled  close 
to  the  million  mark.  We  have  in  times  past  bought 
as  much  as  5000  pounds  from  one  party,  and  in  a 
season  we  would  find  quite  a  few  who  would  have  that 


PROFITS. 


79 


much;  but  if  you  were  to  go  to  the  same  places  now 
you  would  not  find  possibly  more  than  from  five  to  fifty 
pounds,  and  at  some  of  them  you  would  not  find 
the  five." 

These  statements  are  also  upheld  by  the  following 
export  figures  for  the  four  years  that  have  passed  since 
the  appearance  of  Part  I  of  this  book.  These  figures 
foim  a  continuation  of  the  table  given  on  Page  47, 
and  are  derived  from  the  same  source ;  viz,  the  Bureau 
of  Statistics  of  the  United  States  Treasury  Depart- 
ment. The  great  increase  in  the  average  price  per 
pound  cannot  fail  to  strike  even  the  casual  reader. 


YEAR 

1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 

Pounds 

Valued  at 

Average  per  pound 

196,196 
160,901 
149,069 
154,063 

$782,545 
833,710 
801,672 
856,515 

$4.00 
5.18 
5.31 
5.55 

The  author  is  indebted  to  the  several  firms  whose 
names  appear  below  for  prices  paid  by  them  to  collec- 
tors and  growers.  Messrs.  Samuel  Wells  &  Co.,  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  whose  list  of  prices  for  the  years  1889- 
1898  is  given  on  Page  47,  quote  the  following  for  the 
last  three  vears : 


YEAR 

Fair 

Choice 

1899 
1900 
1901 

$2.50-4.90 
3.50-4.75 
3.75-5.25 

$3.50-7.25 
4.00-6.10 
4.50-7.25 

In  November,  1901,  the  same  firm  addressed  the 
following  communication  to  Orange  Judd  Company: 

"We  have  paid  for  the  best  qualities  of  cultivated 
root  in  1899  somewhat  over  $8,  1900 — $7,  and  this 
year  on  an  average  of  about  the  same  price  as  last. 
We  consider  cultivated  ginseng  worth  about  twenty 
per  cent  more  than  the  wild;  however,  this  is  a  very 


80  PRESENT    STATUS    OP    THE     INDUSTRY. 

difficult  matter  to  determine  exactly,  as  the  value  of 
each  lot  of  cultivated  root  depends  entirely  upon  the 
grower.  Some  men  with  greater  intelligence  than 
others  produce  much  more  satisfactory  results." 

Messrs.  J.  L.  Prouty,  of  New  York  city,  under 
date  of  December  6,  1901,  wrote  to  Orange  Judd  Com- 
pany as  follows : 

"Northern  ginseng  root  this  season  has  sold  from 
$6  to  $7  per  pound  as  to  size,  etc.  Southern  root  from 
$4.50  to  $5.50  per  pound,  clean  and  off  strings.  These 
prices  have  been  fully  seventy-five  cents  to  $i  per 
pound  higher  than  season  of  1900.  As  to  the  culti- 
vated ginseng  root  no  quantities  this  year  have  been 
put  upon  the  market  to  establish  separate  prices,  still 
we  have  sold  a  few  small  lots  of  the  cultivated  at  $7.50 
and  $8  per  pound,  grown  in  New  York  State.  The 
cultivated  root  has  a  different  taste  and  a  certain 
character  which  we  can  distinguish  from  the  wild, 
crude  root  and  should  some  of  the  growers  clarify  this 
root  'twould  sell  for  at  least  $10  per  pound." 

Mr.  T.  A.  Bronson  in  November,  1901,  quotes  the 
following : 

Ginseng,  fair  to  choice,  wild  dug,  1899  $5.00  to  $6.50 

1900  $5.00  to  $6.50 

1901  $5-75  to  $7.00 

Ginseng,  cultivated,  choice  sold  this  year,  $9,  ordinary  $7.50  to  $8 
Specially  good  lots  wild  dug  may  have  commanded  $7.50,  but 

this  was  exceptional. 

Dealers  in  the  South  were  unknown  to  the  author 
when  the  first  edition  was  prepared,  but  two  have  been 
found  who  have  furnished  their  prices.  Messrs.  Wal- 
lace Bros.,  Statesville,  N.  C,  wrote  as  follows  on  July 
25,  1902 :  "From  September  to  January,  1900,  we  paid 
for  ginseng  root,  wild,  $4  per  pound,  for  cultivated, 
$4.50.  And  during  the  season  of  1900  we  paid  $4.50 
and  $5  respectively.  A  number  of  parties  are  cul- 


PROFITS.  81 

tivating  ginseng  in  this  section,  but  supplies  to  date 
have  not  been  large." 

Messrs.  Speyer  &  Son,  Lexington,  Ky.,  had  this 
to  say  on  July  22,  1902 :  "We  are  now  paying  from 
$3.25  to  $3.50  per  pound  for  Kentucky  ginseng;  cul- 
tivated root  will  bring  from  $4.25  to  $4.50.  The  culti- 
vation of  ginseng  is  becoming  more  common  each 
year,  and  of  course  the  more  it  is  cultivated  the  cheaper 
it  will  be.  The  market  to-day  is  extremely  dull,  with 
a  lower  tendency." 

Messrs.  Eisenhauer  &  Co.,  under  date  of  July  23, 
1902,  wrote  as  follows :  "Our  prices  for  fall  dug  gin- 
seng last  season  in  average  lots,  ranged  from  about 
$4  for  small  fibery  roots  from  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee to  about  $7  for  'seng  from  the  best  sections — 
this,  when  our  market  was  at  its  strongest.  The  quan- 
tity of  ginseng  cultivated  and  marketed,  thus  far,  is 
quite  insignificant,  although  considering  the  number  of 
persons  now  interested  in  its  culture,  there  ought  to  be 
a  material  improvement  in  this  respect  during  the  next 
year  or  two.  The  fact  that  shipments  of  cultivated 
root  consist  chiefly  of  large  selected  pieces  (the  smaller 
specimens  being  put  back  into  the  ground)  means  of 
course  that  it  has  been  bringing  higher  prices  than 
average  lots  of  wild  roots.  Otherwise  it  is  of  no 
greater  value,  and  we  have  been  informed  by  con- 
sumers that  it  lacks  somewhat  the  peculiar  flavor 
possessed  by  the  wild  growing  'seng,  which  will  hurt 
its  value  should  it  ever  be  exported  in  noteworthy 
quantities. 

"The  outlook  this  season  is  not  at  all  satisfactory. 
The  unusually  low  value  of  silver,  together  with  a  light 
demand  in  Hong  Kong,  has  caused  losses  to  the  ex- 
porters on  a  large  proportion  of  their  purchases,  and 
in  some  cases  these  losses  were  quite  severe.  If  you 
will  consider  the  extraordinary  advance  in  ginseng 
during  the  past  few  years — to  a  large  extent  forced 


82  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

and  unnatural — and  the  continued  depression  in  silver 
during  the  same  period,  you  will  realize  somewhat  the 
steep  advance  in  price  the  Chinese  consumers  had  to 
submit  to.  A  reaction  is  bound  to  occur,  and  it  looks 
as  though  it  has  already  set  in.  At  any  rate,  if  export- 
ers are  to  make  any  profit  on  their  purchases  this 
season,  they  will  have  to  be  far  more  conservative  than 
during  the  past  two  or  three  years.  Many  publications 
are  going  the  rounds  in  which  the  idea  is  conveyed 
that  there  is  no  limit"  to  the  price  which  the  Chinese 
will  pay  for  ginseng,  but  this  is  all  nonsense,  and  only 
deceives  the  farmer  into  buying  a  lot  of  seeds,  etc.,  for 
the  doubtful  cultivating  venture." 

A  similar  set  of  ideas  is  held  by  Messrs.  Wells  & 
Co.,  who  on  July  17,  1902,  had  the  following  to  say: 
"Of  recent  y^ars  the  prices  of  ginseng  have  been 
advanced  by  gamblers  and  speculators  through  the 
country  very  materially,  at  the  same  time  the  crop  has 
been  practically  the  same  annually  and  the  consump- 
tion diminishing  owing  to  the  advancing  prices  and 
the  growing  troubles  in  the  consuming  market  in 
China.  This  has  culminated  in  the  conditions  existing 
to-day :  viz.,  at  the  beginning  of  this  season,  practically 
one-half  of  last  season's  crop  was  still  unsold  in  the 
hands  of  exporters  and  some  large  dealers  who  have  a 
speculative  trend;  heavy  losses  that  have  been  sus- 
tained on  all  goods  sold ;  a  very  much  reduced  con- 
suming market,  because  of  the  poverty  of  the  consumer 
and  inability  to  pay  the  high  prices  demanded ;  serious 
military  and  mercantile  disturbances  in  China,  which 
have  resulted  in  almost  a  total  closing  of  the  market; 
and  the  complete  disregard  of  the  financial  side  of  the 
business;  viz.,  the  couise  of  bullion  silver  by  all  large 
dealers  this  season.  In  the  face  of  all  this,  handlers 
through  the  country  are  paying  and  demanding 
approximately  last  season's  prices;  this  will  result  in 
loss  to  someone. 


PROFITS.  83 

"Cultivated  ginseng,  because  of  the  very  small 
quantity  harvested  and  the  superior  quality  of  the  root, 
is  influenced  less  by  the  depressing  conditions  probably 
than  the  wild  article,  although  it  feels  to  a  large  extent 
the  depression.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  price  of  gin- 
seng can  be  kept  down  lower  than  the  prices  of  last 
year,  as  unless  this  be  done  the  article  will  still  be 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  masses  and  we  will  be  bothered 
by  an  overstocked  market  continually. 

"Some  years  ago  some  brokers  in  this  country 
imported  considerable  Japanese  ginseng,  which  in 
appearance  is  very  similar  to  the  American  article,  and 
before  the  trade  in  this  country  knew  it,  had  disposed 
of  fifteen-cent  root  for  mixing  with  American  ginseng, 
which  was  then  worth  from  $2.50  to  $4.50,  according 
to  its  quality.  When  discovered  by  the  Chinese  in 
Hong  Kong  it  nearly  ruined  the  business  of  every 
exporter  in  whose  shipments  this  Japanese  ginseng 
was  found,  and  the  innocent  exporter  in  this  country 
suffered  severely,  while  for  some  years  the  American 
ginseng  business  was  considerably  affected.  Of  late, 
either  under  misrepresentation  or  through  unscrupu- 
lousness,  some  American  dealers  in  settings  for  gar- 
dens have  been  advertising  and  pushing  Japanese  seed, 
claiming  in  their  advertisements  that  it  is  almost  as 
good  as  the  American  article  and  will  be  highly  profi- 
table to  the  cultivator.  Commercially  Japanese  gin- 
seng is  practically  worthless,  and  will  kill  the  cultivat- 
ing of  American  ginseng  in  this  country  if  permitted 
to  get  a  foothold  in  our  gardens.  The  danger  of 
handling  Japanese  ginseng  cannot  be  too  forcibly 
impressed  upon  the  trade  and  the  grower,  and  we  can 
only  say  for  ourselves  that,  knowing  a  man  to  be  rais- 
ing Japanese  root,  we  will  do  everything  in  our  power 
to  injure  his  business,  as  it  would  be  a  protection  not 
only  to  ourselves  but  to  the  entire  trade  to  have  the 
Japanese  article  stamped  out  completely." 


84  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

On  July  21,  1902,  the  same  firm  wrote  Mr.  Sears 
as  follows :  "You  have  asked  us  in  the  past  in  regard 
to  overstocking  the  market  with  cultivated  ginseng. 
We  do  not  think  it  is  possible  to  overstock  the  market, 
for  many  reasons : 

" First.  The  article  is  of  such  a  slow  growth  that 
it  will  take  many  years  before  the  American  gardens 
can  produce  a  sufficient  quantity  to  supply  the  normal 
demand. 

"Second.  As  the  crop  increases  in  volume,  it  nat- 
urally should  decrease  somewhat  in  price,  and  this  will 
restrain  many  from  going  into  the  business. 

"Third.  As  the  price  declines,  making  it  possible 
to  sell  at  a  lower  figure  in  China,  the  consuming  market 
in  China  will  increase,  making  a  consumption  of  a 
greater  quantity  of  root  possible. 

"For  several  years  past  the  production  of  Ameri- 
can wild  ginseng  has  been  about  stationary,  at  from 
about  125,000  to  130,000  pounds  per  annum.  In  this 
same  period  prices  have  advanced  fully  one  hundred 
per  cent,  with  the  result  that  the  price  has  gone  out  of 
reach  of  the  vast  majority  of  Chinamen  who  formerly 
used  ginseng,  and  it  is  now  used  only  by  the  select  few. 
Consequently  when  the  season  opened  this  year,  ex- 
porters carried  over  from  last  season's  goods  more 
than  one-half  the  crop,  or  based  upon  the  sales  made  in 
China  last  year,  more  than  a  year's  supply.  All  this 
could  be  sold  in  a  hurry  if  prices  were  sufficiently  low. 
However,  there  is  always  a  demand  for  ginseng, 
although  if  a  sufficient  volume  of  cultivated  root  were 
offered  the  price  on  the  wild  would  be  very  low,  prob- 
ably one-half  of  that  for  cultivated  root.  We  do  not 
know  what  this  price  for  cultivated  root  should  be,  as 
no  two  gardens  develop  exactly  the  same  quality  of 
ginseng,  and  as  no  two  cultivators  pay  the  same  atten- 
tion to  their  plants.  There  eventually  will  be  a  stand- 
ard by  which  all  gardens  will  work,  but  until  that  is 


PROFITS.  85 

reached  there  will  be  no  uniform  price  that  will  be  of 
advantage  for  anyone  to  know.  We  have  paid  as  high 
as  $10  per  pound  for  cultivated  ginseng  in  the  past, 
but  under  the  conditions  existing  to-day,  would  not 
pay  that.  However,  we  cannot  positively  state  now 
what  similar  root  to  this  would  be  worth,  but  it  will  be 
worth  considerably  more  than  the  wild  at  any  time." 

The  statements  made  in  the  last  three  letters  may, 
at  first  sight,  appear  to  be  not  very  encouraging  to  the 
would-be,  or  to  the  actual  ginseng  grower.  The 
author  hereby  admits  that  he  was  surprised  at  the  state 
of  affairs,  but  after  considering  the  matter  in  a  calm, 
unbiased  way,  which,  being  neither  a  grower  of  nor 
dealer  in  ginseng,  he  believes  himself  able  to  do,  he 
ventures  to  express  the  opinion  that  altogether  the 
signs  are  hopeful.  Let  him  obtrude  his  reasons. 

First.  Ginseng  is  not  a  staple  crop,  like  wheat, 
rice,  potatoes  or  apples,  which  mankind  would  find 
inconvenience  in  doing  without.  It  is  at 'best  a  condi- 
ment used  to  give  "meat  a  flavor  the  Chinese  people 
like."  In  no  household,  therefore,  can  it  compare  in 
the  expense  account  with  even  the  least  frequently 
used  food.  And  in  consequence  its  consumption  must 
decline  as  the  income  of  the  family  decreases,  or,  what 
amounts  to  the  same  thing,  as  its  price  increases.  In 
short,  as  soon  as  the  family  can  no  longer  afford  gin- 
seng it  will  cease  to  be  purchased.  Its  greatest  con- 
sumption, however,  is  not  as  a  luxury  but  as  a  drug, 
and  as  such,  no  matter  how  important  it  may  be  or 
may  become,  it  can  never  rise  to  the  dignity  of  a  staple. 
The  food  products,  products  used  to  clothe  and  to 
shelter  the  body — in  a  word — necessities  must  always 
outclass  it. 

Second.  Its  rank,  present  and  prospective,  having 
been  proved,  its  standing  in  the  market  must  be  inves- 
tigated. Legitimately,  the  price  of  any  article  is  based 
upon  the  law  of  supply  ajid  demand.  The  price  may 


86  PRESENT    STATUS     OF     THE     INDUSTRY. 

rise  because  the  demand  exceeds  the  supply;  this  is 
determined  by  the  market.  It  may  rise  also,  because, 
for  reasons  beyond  the  control  of  the  market,  the  cost 
of  production  is  increased.  It  may  fall  because  the 
consumption  declines  and  the  marketman,  who  in 
order  to  save  himself  from  loss  of  interest,  or  of  prin- 
cipal, or  of  both,  is  willing  to  make  a  slight  sacrifice, 
lowers  the  price  so  as  to  reach  a  class  of  customers 
less  able  to  pay  the  customary  price  than  his  regular 
patrons.  It  may  also  fall  because  the  producer  has 
cheapened  his  processes,  or  has  a  large  quantity  upon 
which  he  is  willing  to  make  only  a  small  profit.  Every 
item  of  evidence  points  to  the  fact  that  the  supply  of 
American  ginseng  is  decreasing;  therefore,  the  diffi- 
culty and  consequently  the  expense  of  obtaining  the 
root  are  growing  greater  each  year.  Under  such  con- 
ditions an  increased  price  must  result,  and  has  resulted. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  demand  for  ginseng  is  decreas- 
ing because,  being  a  luxury  and  a  drug,  people  of  small 
means  find  they  cannot  afford  to  purchase  it. 

Third.  The  case  thus  far  detailed  is  fair  and 
should  cause  no  complaint  on  the  part  of  either  seller 
or  buyer,  but,  regardless  of  the  reduced  demand  and 
the  legitimately  high  price  caused  by  lessened  supply, 
the  price  is  forced  higher  still,  and  the  market,  already 
threatened,  shows  signs  of  paralysis,  which  when  it 
occurs  will  be  followed  by  a  considerable  reduction  in 
prices  and  a  consequent  sale,  "in  a  hurry,"  of  the 
supply  of  ginseng  on  hand. 

Fourth.  A  period  of  readjustment  must  follow 
and  the  industry  must  assume  a  more  healthy  form. 
With  the  crash,  and  with  the  decline  in  price,  the 
hunters  of  the  wild  root,  who  already  find  difficulty  in 
obtaining  a  supply,  will  become  discouraged  and  very 
many  of  them  will  stop  collecting  the  root.  This  will, 
of  course,  reduce  the  quantity  of  wild  root  exported, 
and  the  demand,  which  wiU  have  been  stimulated  by 


PROFITS.  87 

the  increased  consumption  of  cheapened  root  now,  or 
soon  to  be  upon  the  market,  will  increase  and  will  war- 
rant an  advance  in  price.  At  this  juncture,  the  grower 
who  has  been  quietly  extending  his  beds  will  have  a 
chance. 

Finally.  At  the  risk  of  inviting  severe  censure 
from  growers  who  sell  seeds  and  roots  for  planting, 
the  author  feels  called  upon  to  state  his  belief  that  the 
establishment  of  the  ginseng  industry  in  America  will 
be  hastened  if  every  grower  and  dealer  will  exert  his 
utmost  influence  to  prevent  the  recurrence  of  such 
exorbitant  prices  as  have  been  recorded  in  the  last 
few  years.  Further,  he  believes  that  the  grower  who 
will  put  in  practice  the  methods  suggested  for  the 
origination  of  improved  ginseng  varieties ;  who  will 
cultivate  his  plants  for  their  roots  and  not  for  the  sake 
of  the  money  their  seed  will  bring ,  who  will  give  ade- 
quate attention  to  the  needs  of  his  plants  from  sowing 
to  digging;  and  who  will  place  upon  the  market  dried 
roots  that  he  can  take  honest  pride  in  because  of  their 
prime  quality — such  a  grower  should  have  no  reason  to 
complain  of  his  income,  even  though  the  price  he  re- 
ceive be  lower  than  the  lowest  annual  export  average 
price  per  pound  during  the  last  ten  years. 

These  assertions  as  to  the  advisability  of  a  reduc- 
tion of  price  and  to  the  profit  to  be  derived  at  such 
price,  are  bold  and  broad ;  but  while  the  author  wishes 
to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  no  estimates  of  what 
may  be  made  in  ginseng  culture  properly  so  called, 
i.  e.,  for  the  dried  root,  in  a  given  space  of  time  have 
been  quoted  or  inserted  in  his  book,  yet  he  feels  sure 
that,  properly  managed,  and  even  at  the  low  figure 
referred  to,  the  growing  of  ginseng  should  yield  a 
profit  that  should  compare  favorably  with  the  profit 
made  upon  any  of  our  farm,  garden  or  orchard  crops. 

Before  concluding  this  section  special  attention 
must  be  called  to  what  has  been  said  about  Japanese 


88  PRESENT   STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

ginseng,  concerning  which  the  reader  should  turn  up 
the  references  given  in  the  index.  Every  item  possible 
has  been  collected  concerning  this  root ;  not  a  single 
one  is  in  favor  of  it.  If  a  warning  be  worth  anything 
to  the  individual  grower,  the  author  feels  it  his  duty 
to  say  very  clearly  and  emphatically:  leave  Japanese 
ginseng  alone ;  and  to  the  dealer :  do  all  in  your  power 
to  check  the  growing  of  this  root.  The  individual  will 
be  injured  by  it,  but  more  important,  the  ginseng 
industry  in  America  will  be  put  in  jeopardy. 

ADULTERATION     AND     FRAUD 

The  following  quotation  from  the  Somerset  (Ky.) 
Journal  of  October  19,  1900,  and  a  similar  thought  in 
Mr.  Stanton's  letters,  meet  the  view  of  all  prominent 
growers  of  ginseng:  "In  our  investigations  of  the 
business  of  'sang'  culture,  one  thing  especially  im- 
presses the  writer,  and  that  is  that  while  the  opportu- 
nities for  fraud  and  fake  are  golden,  there  is  not  the 
slightest  reason  why  a  cultivator  of  the  plant  or  a  seller 
of  his  product  should  ever  resort  to  any  sort  of  mis- 
representation or  fraud  to  profit  in  the  business,  as  it 
is  amply  remunerative  without  the  aid  of  trickery  of 
any  kind." 

But  trickery  is  resorted  to,  and  also  statements  of 
a  too  lurid  character.  Concerning  the  adulteration  of 
the  dried  root  the  following  extract  from  Bulletin  16 
is  given : 

"In  the  sale  of  ginseng  in  China  various  frauds  are 
perpetrated,  consisting  of  the  mixture  of  lower  grades 
with  the  higher  and  the  substitution  of  other  kinds  of 
roots.  The  Korean  root,  which  ranks  after  the  Man- 
churian,  constitutes  the  only  available  supply  of  native 
root  in  the  hands  of  traders.  This  root  is  frequently 
sophisticated ;  Japanese  ginseng,  which  is  itself  often 
adulterated  with  the  roots  of  Campanula  glauca,  being 
often  found  mixed  with  it.  Other  species  of  Campa- 


ADULTERATION   AND    FRAUD.  89 

nulaceae  belonging  to  the  genera  Adenophora  and 
Platycodon  are  frequently  used  to  adulterate  and  re- 
place the  genuine  root,  and  it  has  even  been  stated  that 
Japanese  ginger  has  been  found  in  some  samples. 

"It  has  been  claimed  by  Messrs.  Hirsch  &  Lowen- 
stein,  of  New  York,  that  Japanese  ginseng  has  been 
imported  into  the  United  States,  shipped  to  the  interior 
of  the  ginseng  country,  sold  to  country  merchants  in 
small  quantities,  and  resold  by  them  to  the  wholesalers, 
who  export  it  as  American  ginseng.  Upon  learning  of 
this  alleged  fraud,  authentic  specimens  of  American 
and  Japanese  root,  the  latter  imported  by  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  from  Japan,  were  examined  by 
Mr.  A.  J.  Pieters  of  the  Division  of  Botany.  He  found 
upon  careful  microscopical  study  of  cross  and  longitu- 
dinal sections  that  no  characters  can  be  found  in  the 
Japanese  roots  which  are  not  also  observed  in  the 
American.  It  is  stated  by  one  ginseng  dealer  that  when 
the  Japanese  root  is  broken  in  two  the  surfaces  of  the 
fracture  differ  from  similar  surfaces  in  broken  Amer- 
ican root  in  much  the  same  way  that  the  fractured 
surfaces  of  the  hard  wheats  differ  from  similar  sur- 
faces in  the  soft  wheats.  It  has  been  noticed,  however, 
that  some  specimens  of  American  root  have  the  same 
kind  of  fracture  as  the  Japanese,  and  the  difference 
may  be  merely  an  incidental  variation  due  to  different 
methods  in  drying;  roots  dried  in  mild  heat  exposing 
a  different  fracture  from  roots  dried  more  quickly  in  a 
more  intense  heat.  This  test  is,  however,  not  suffi- 
ciently constant  to  be  of  general  application. 

"Unless  Japanese  ginseng  could  be  laid  down  in 
New  York  in  wholesale  quantities  by  sailing  vessels  it 
would  cost  too  much  to  distribute  the  root  in  small  lots 
to  the  country  dealers  for  mixing  and  reshipment.  If 
it  were  imported  in  any  considerable  quantity,  it  seems 
more  likely  that  the  adulteration  would  be  practiced  in 
the  New  York  market  by  the  wholesalers  themselves. 


90  PRESENT    STATUS    OF     THE     INDUSTRY. 

It  is  believed,  however,  that  no  adulteration  with  the 
Japanese  article  worthy  of  extended  notice  is  practiced, 
since  the  imports  of  Japanese  ginseng  into  the  United 
States  for  the  years  1895  and  1896  were  $846.60  and 
$358.19  respectively.  Even  if  the  whole  of  this  im- 
ported ginseng  were  used  for  sophistication  of  Amer- 
ican roots,  it  would  form  but  a  very  small  percentage 
of  the  actual  output,  which  amounted  in  1896  to 
$770,673 ;  but  it  is  believed  that  this  Japanese  root 
found  its  way  to  the  States  upon  the  Pacific  Coast, 
there  to  be  used  not  to  adulterate  the  American  article, 
but  to  supply  the  demand  of  the  resident  Chinese  and 
Japanese. 

"Apart  from  adulteration  there  is  little  fraud  prac- 
ticed, except  by  a  few  collectors,  who  load  the  root 
with  nails,  screws,  lead,  and  other  heavy  substances  to 
make  the  sample  'weigh  up  well.'  These  foreign  sub- 
stances may  be  inserted  while  the  root  is  soft  with 
comparative  ease.  Upon  drying,  the  shrinking  of  the 
root  generally  exposes  the  metal.  Little  loss  is  sus- 
tained, however,  through  this  fraud,  since  the  whole- 
saler refuses  such  roots  as  have  been  plugged,  and  the 
country  merchant  is  supposed  to  shift  his  prices  when 
bartering  groceries  and  dry  goods  for  ginseng  roots." 

Perhaps,  however,  more  disappointment  is  caused 
by  misrepresentation  of  the  possibilities  of  ginseng 
culture  in  a  short  time  upon  any  kind  of  soil  from 
muck  to  brick  clay,  than  by  any  other  kind  of  fraud. 
Exaggerated  statements  based  upon  estimates  are  com- 
mon in  the  daily  papers,  and  it  is  believed  that  many 
would-be  ginseng  growers  are  duped  annually  in  con- 
sequence. As  a  matter  of  fact  careful  authorities  are 
of  opinion  that  the  present  area  devoted  to  ginseng  that 
will  be  ready  for  market  within  the  next  two  years  is 
probably  less  than  ten  acres.  And  this  is  largely  in 
plats  of  only  a  few  square  rods  at  most,  and  the  largest 
part  of  which,  so  far  as  the  grower  of  it  is  concerned, 


ADULTERATION   AND    FRAUD.  91 

will  be  the  first  crop  dug.  In  general,  therefore,  the 
statements  as  to  amounts  that  can  be  obtained  from 
acres  are  misleading.  There  are  very  few  men  who 
have  sold  dried  root  from  more  than  a  square  rod  at 
a  time,  and  who  can  give  an  accurate  account  of  the 
cost  of  production  from  even  that  small  area. 

These  estimates  recall  the  statement  made  by  a 
certain  prominent  man  as  to  the  rate  potatoes  could  be 
dug  with  a  power  potato  digger.  The  author  can 
vouch  for  the  facts  in  the  case,  which  were  as  follows : 
In  a  level  field  where  the  soil  was  free  from  obstruc- 
tions, a  pair  of  horses,  better  and  stronger  than  most 
farm  horses,  was  made  to  haul  the  digger  as  quickly 
as  possible  once  across  the  field,  a  distance  of 
about  one  hundred  yards,  account  being  taken  of  the 
time.  From  this  the  time  necessary  to  dig  an  acre 
was  calculated,  no  account  being  taken  of  the  time 
necessary  to  turn  the  team  to  start  back  on  the  next 
row.  The  rate  was  announced  as  a  possible  one.  In 
practice,  it  is  doubtful  if  any  team  could1  have  worked 
day  in  day  out  and  made  half  the  speed  even  upon  most 
favorable  land.  The  statement  was  not  fair  to  the 
machine,  to  the  horses,  nor  to  the  man  who  made  it. 

The  paragraph  quoted  below  from  Special  Crops 
shows  the  way  in  which  similar  estimates  are  made  in 
ginseng  culture.  This,  it  will  be  noticed,  is  for  the 
seed,  but  numerous  similar  estimates  are  published 
concerning  the  root.  "We  know  that  there  are  extrav- 
agant claims  made  about  the  profits  to  be  reaped  in  the 
cultivation  of  ginseng.  Facts  are  facts — and  when  we 
see  right  before  our  eyes  what  is  being  accomplished, 
we  feel  like  saying  to  certain  editors  of  agricultural 
papers  that  they  should  go  a  little  slow  about  charging 
falsehood  and  misrepresentation  upon  ginseng  grow- 
ers. Our  best  plant  last  year  gave  us  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  seeds.  That  plant  was  in  a  bed,  where  plants 
were  set  six  inches  apart  each  way.  These  seeds  were 


92  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

sold  for  a  penny  apiece,  which,  by  the  way,  is  less  than 
market  price  to-day.  We  do  not  know  of  any  dealer 
who  is  offering  seeds  at  a  penny  apiece.  If  you  will 
take  the  trouble  to  figure  this  up,  you  will  find  that,  if  a 
bed  could  be  grown  to  average  one  hundred  seeds  to 
each  plant,  the  seed  crop  would  be  worth  $1089  to  the 
square  rod,  or  $174,240  per  acre. 

"On  the  other  hand — on  a  different  soil — the 
writer  had  a  bed  of  five  hundred  plants  in  which,  owing 
to  the  wet  weather  in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  every 
one  of  the  plants  died  down  during  the  month  of  June. 
We  expect  a  few  of  them  will  come  up  this  season. 
There  is  no  question  but  that  the  ginseng  business 
offers  a  big  chance  for  making  money — and  also  a  big 
chance  for  losing  money,  if  not  well  handled." 

It  is  probable  that  at  this  time,  if  not  before,  the 
would-be  grower  will  ask  if  the  prices  demanded  for 
plants  and  seeds  are  reasonable,  and  if  the  possible 
profits  to  be  derived  in  the  business  warrant  the  outlay 
of  his  money.  Since  the  author  believes  that  there  is 
now  no  one  sending  turnip  and  similar  seed,  nor  wild 
sarsaparilla  plants,  instead  of  ginseng  seed  and  plants, 
he  will  confine  his  remarks  to  ginseng  prices  and  leave 
this  type  of  fraud  without  further  comment.  It  is  his 
candid  opinion  that  the  prices  some  men  demand  are 
far  too  high,  and  the  exactions  that  others  impose  as  to 
the  number  of  plants  or  seeds  they  will  sell  to  one  per- 
son are  ridiculous.  With  respect  to  other  dealers,  the 
whole  matter  rests  upon  the  law  of  supply  and  demand. 
Ginseng  growing  is  on  the  boom  and  investors  must 
expect  to  pay  high  prices. 

Knowing  that  first-class  fruit  trees  can  be  pur- 
chased for  twenty  cents,  and  acknowledging  a  weak- 
ness for  fruit,  the  author  would  hesitate  to  pay  the  sum 
mentioned  for  a  little  plant  smaller  than  an  undersized, 
unmarketable  radish  that  he  can't  eat,  and  five  cents 
for  a  single  seed,  knowing  also  that  if  he  should  sue- 


ADULTERATION   AND    FRAUD.  93 

ceed  in  making  the  things  grow,  be  must  wait  four  or 
five  years  before  he  can  sell  the  root.  No,  he  has  not 
forgotten  that  the  plant  will  produce  seed  (it  simply 
can't  help  doing  that !)  and  that  this  seed  will  be  worth 
so  much  at  present  prices,  nor  that  it  may  be  planted, 
and  that,  and  that,  and  that!  He  has  not  forgotten 
this,  but  he  knows  that  it  is  mostly  on  paper.  What  if 
the  plant  should  die?  It  possibly  will  if  the  grower 
has  had  no  experience.  What  if  the  price  should  fall  ? 
No.  While  the  author  has  no  fault  to  find  with  the  man 
who  asks  high  prices,  he  nevertheless  thinks  that  after 
the  boom,  sellers  of  ginseng  nursery  stock  will  be  glad 
to  get  $5  a  hundred  for  one-year-old  roots,  and  $i  an 
ounce  for  seed  of  even  named  varieties,  and  that  at 
these  prices  they  should  make  money.  Until  that 
time  arrive,  however,  the  man  who  wants  to  grow  gin- 
seng must  expect  to  pay  for  his  fun.  If  he  could  only 
put  himself  in  the  seller's  place  how  quickly  prices 
would  fall! 

But,  joking  aside,  the  only  conclusion  to  be  drawn 
from  the  conditions  presented  in  the  preceding  and  the 
present  sections,  are  that  prices  of  both  roots  and  seeds 
must  decline,  that  the  prices  of  dried  root  must  also 
fall,  that  fraud  will  be  exposed  and  that  the  industry, 
now  afflicted  with  the  rickets  and  only  commencing  to 
toddle,  will  outgrow  its  weakness  and  finally  stand 
firmly.  These  conclusions  are  also  in  harmony  with 
what  the  consuls  in  China  and  Korea  have  to  say  of 
the  ginseng  industry  in  general.  A  careful  perusal  of 
the  letters  that  follow  should  give  the  would-be  grower 
hope  that  even  should  he  pay  exorbitant  prices  for 
stock  he  can  look  forward  to  profitable  returns.  No 
further  comment  need  be  made  than  to  say  that  these 
quotations  are  either  entire  letters  or  the  important 
parts  of  such  as  have  appeared  since  the  first  edition  of 
this  book  was  published.  They  are  arranged,  as  will 


94  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

be  seen,  according  to  the  dates  upon  which  they  were 
written. 

THE     ASIATIC     GINSENG     INDUSTRY     AND     MARKET 

Consul-General  Rounsevelle  Wildman,  writing 
from  Hong  Kong,  January  7,  1898,  says  in  United 
States  Consular  Reports,  Vol.  56  (1898)  : 

"The  price  of  ginseng,  like  the  price  of  deerhorn, 
is  governed  more  by  sentiment  than  by  the  law  of 
supply  and  demand.  It  depends  upon  the  color,  the 
form  and  size,  and  its  fancied  resemblance  to  the  human 
body.  Two  pieces  of  ginseng,  both  weighing  the  same 
and  both  of  the  same  color  and  taken  from  the  ground 
at  the  same  time,  might  vary  one  hundred  per  cent  in 
price;  and  yet  there  is  no  real  reason,  to  occidental 
eyes,  for  the  distinction.  The  preferred  variety  is  thin, 
and  has  two  lateral  arms  projecting  from  the  stem. 

"Of  course  no  such  price  as  $100  an  ounce  is 
ever  under  any  circumstances  paid  for  the  American 
growth,  although  I  have  seen  mandarin  ginseng  that 
was  worth  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  times  its  own 
weight  in  silver.  As  a  general  statement,  American 
ginseng  will  sell  here  for  $3  to  $3.50  (gold)  per  pound. 
It  would  not  sell  for  less,  and  might,  if  properly  ex- 
ploited, bring  ten  times  that  much.  I  mean,  if  it  were 
exhibited  in  such  a  way  that  the  Chinese  could  buy  it, 
piece  by  piece,  as  fish  or  chickens  are  bought,  in  the 
public  market,  instead  of  by  the  quantity. 

"All  the  leading  Chinese  merchants  come  to  this 
consulate  weekly,  and  samples  of  American  ginseng 
could  be  sent  in  care  of  the  consulate,  spread  on  a  table, 
and  the  Chinese  merchants  could  send  orders  to  Amer- 
ica with  the  samples.  The  market  for  a  good  article  is 
practically  unlimited.  There  are  400,000,000  Chinese, 
and  all  to  some  extent  use  ginseng.  If  they  can  once 
become  satisfied  with  the  results  obtained  from  the  tea 
made  of  the  American  ginseng,  the  yearly  demand  will 


ASIATIC    GINSENG    INDUSTRY    AND    MARKET.  95 

run  up  into  the  millions  of  dollars'  worth.  The  man- 
darin or  imperial  ginseng  ($50  to  $200  an  ounce)  is 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  majority,  and  the  Korean  gin- 
seng is  used  more  as  a  tonic  than  as  a  panacea.  Hong 
Kong  is  a  free  port,  so  the  only  expense  of  sending 
ginseng  would  be  freight  across  the  continent  and 
across  the  Pacific  to  Hong  Kong. 

"As  to  packing,  that  is  a  question  to  be  decided  on 
the  quality  and  condition  of  the  article.  Of  course,  the 
crude  root  would  come  in  tight  boxes  or  barrels,  but 
the  clarified  would  demand  more  care.  If  the  exporter 
wished  to  test  the  market  in  competition  with  the  Man- 
churian  ginseng,  I  would  advise  him  to  pack  in  cotton, 
so  there  could  be  no  possible  breakage,  or  even  rubbing 
of  one  root  against  another.  In  any  case,  the  clarified 
root — rendered  translucent  by  steaming,  skimming, 
and  drying — should  be  packed  carefully,  so  as  not  to 
break. 

"The  little  part  or  nub,  where  the  arms  join  the 
stem,  is  considered  of  far  greater  value  than  the  lower 
section,  while  the  part  above  ground  is  not  eaten  at 
all;  it  is  supposed  to  be  injurious.  Consequently,  if 
the  nub  is  broken  off,  two-thirds  of  the  value  of  the 
root  would  be  gone.  It  must  be  attached  to  the  body. 
Good  ginseng  breaks  easily." 

Only  a  few  days  later  (January  24,  1898)  Minister 
Horace  N.  Allen  wrote  from  Seoul,  Korea,  as  follows : 

"Korea  is  noted  for  the  superior  excellence  of  its 
ginseng,  which  brings  a  higher  price  in  China  than 
that  imported  from  other  countries.  Although  the 
Koreans,  the  Chinese,  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  the 
Japanese,  are  greatly  addicted  to  the  use  of  this  drug, 
the  Chinese,  by  virtue  of  their  vast  numbers,  are  the 
chief  purchasers  of  the  root.  The  import  of  American 
ginseng  into  China  for  the  year  1896,  according  to 
Chinese  customs  returns,  was  264,860  catties,  valued  at 


96  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 

1,033,882  taels    (equal  to  353,147  pounds,  valued  at 
$656,515  gold),  or  about  $1.86  gold  per  pound. 

"Korean  ginseng  declared  at  the  same  ports  for  the 
year  1896  amounted  to  11,240  catties,  valued  at  389,192 
taels  (14,987  pounds,  valued  at  $247,137  gold),  or 
about  $16.50  per  pound.  It  may  be  seen  that  by 
customs  valuations  alone,  the  Korean  gins-eng  is 
appraised  at  nearly  nine  times  the  value  of  that  from 
America. 

/'The  above  declared  'amount  of  ginseng  imported 
into  China  from  Korea  is  supposed  to  represent  not 
more  than  half  of  the  actual  importation,  as  the  smug- 
gling of  this  article  is  made  the  business  of  almost 
every  Chinaman  returning  home  from  Korea.  There 
is  also  a  considerable  import  of  Korean  ginseng  into 
Hong  Kong,  which  being  a  British  port,  is  not  included 
in  the  reports  of  the  Chinese  customs. 

"The  Korean  ginseng  crop  for  1896,  marketed 
early  in  1897  and  declared  at  the  customs,  amounted 
in  round  numbers  to  31,000  catties  (41,300  pounds), 
valued  in  Korea  at  600,000  yen  ($300,000  gold),  on 
which  an  export  duty  of  300,000  yen  ($150,000  gold) 
was  collected.  The  value  of  this  crop  in  China  is  con- 
siderably more  than  double  its  valuation  in  Korea,  the 
best  Korean  ginseng  often  bringing  50  taels  ($31.75 
gold  per  pound)  in  China. 

"Numerous  requests  are  received  at  this  office 
from  time  to  time  for  ginseng  seeds.  It  will  be  seen 
from  reading  this  report  that  it  is  useless  to  send  the 
seeds  to  America,  as  they  will  dry  out  on  the  way  and 
fail  to  germinate  when  planted." 

"American  Ginseng  in  China"  is  the  title  of  an 
article  in  Consular  Reports  prepared  by  Consul-Gen- 
eral Rounsevelle  Wildman  on  January  7,  1900,  which 
is  quoted  entire  as  follows : 

"The  demand  for  a  market  for  American  ginseng 
in  China  continues.  I  am  in  receipt  by  every  mail  of 


ASIATIC    GINSENG   INDUSTRY    AND    MARKET.  97 

letters  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States  asking  for 
market  quotations  of  ginseng  and  for  the  names  of 
buyers  here.  In  my  previous  report  on  ginseng, 
dated  January  7,  1898,  I  said  in  brief  that  it  would  be 
absolutely  necessary  for  buyers  here  to  see  the  stuff 
before  purchasing,  as  the  purchaser  will  not  take  the 
word  of  another  as  to  quality  or  condition;  that 
Chinese  buy  their  ginseng  after  carefully  sorting  it 
themselves,  and  would  no  more  think  of  purchasing 
at  a  distance  than  we  would  buy  a  horse  with  our  eyes 
blindfolded.  I  further  suggested  that  if  American 
exporters  cared  to  send  a  shipment  of  ginseng  to  my 
care,  I  would  personally  see  that  it  was  submitted  to 
the  Chinese  buyers,  and  obtain  an  opinion  from  them 
as  to  the  possibility  of  finding  a  profitable  market  on 
this  coast.  One  American  dealer  in  ginseng  (a 
resident  of  Pennsylvania)  alone  took  advantage  of  my 
offer.  On  July  8,  1899,  he  shipped  to  my  care  a  box 
of  American  ginseng  containing  eighteen  and  one-half 
pounds,  of  which  he  says : 

"  'I  saved  some  of  my  last  year's  crop  especially  to 
send  you.  I  am  sending  three  grades.  The  market  in 
New  York  last  year  went  ninety  cents  higher  than  ever 
before,  and  has  opened  this  year  $1.75  higher  than  ever 
before.  I  think  that  the  price  will  reach  $7  per  pound. 
.  .  .  The  question  comes  up  many  times  in  this 
country  as  to  what  use  is  made  of  our  ginseng  in 
China,  and  I  should  like  very  much  to  be  informed/ 

"The  last  question  was  answered  in  my  previous 
report. 

"The  sample  box  of  ginseng  arrived,  and  it  was 
found  that  no  care  had  been  taken  in  the  packing,  and 
no  attention  was  paid  to  the  directions  clearly  laid 
down  in  my  previous  report.  The  three  grades  were 
more  or  less  mixed  and  broken,  and,  worse  still,  were 
somewhat  damp.  All  this  could  have  been  easily 
guarded  against  by  careful  packing.  As  the  sender 


98  PRESENT    STATUS    OF     THE     INDUSTRY. 

was  in  no  hurry  for  its  sale,  I  concluded  to  hold  it,  to 
note  the  effect  of  the  dry  season  upon  it,  and  also  to 
give  different  Chinese  buyers  a  chance  to  look  it  over 
thoroughly.  The  lot  proved  far  too  small  in  bulk  and 
too  mixed  in  grades  to  dispose  of  as  a  whole  or  to 
thoroughly  test  the  fluctuating  market.  The  box  con- 
tained a  few  excellent  pieces,  some  medium,  much 
small,  some  strings,  and  a  fair  proportion  of  broken 
pieces  known  as  dust.  The  lot  therefore  required 
picking  over  and  sorting  into  grades  before  the  Chi- 
nese would  bid  for  it.  Even  the  largest  shipments  of 
ginseng  are  sold  only  after  thorough  inspection  and 
sorting.  This  is  one  of  the  rules  of  the  trade,  to 
which  there  seems  to  be  no  exception.  This  practice, 
I  may  add,  has  become  general,  in  consequence,  the 
Chinese  say,  of  the  failure  of  American  and  Japanese 
exporters  to  maintain  the  standard  of  their  shipments. 
They  declare  that  their  second  and  subsequent  ship- 
ments are  never  equal  to  their  first ;  so  that  any  ginseng 
that  might  be  shipped  would  have  to  be  sorted.  There 
is  a  very  large  business  done  here  in  ginseng,  all  of 
which  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Chinese.  This  being  a 
free  port  and  without  a  custom  house,  no  reliable 
record  is  obtainable  of  the  quantity  imported,  and  the 
Chinese  never  keep  statistics.  There  is  an  endless 
variety  of  ginseng  used,  but  for  convenience  it  may  be 
broadly  classified  as  follows  : 

"Yung  Sum — First  quality  from  or  near  Pekin. 

"Korea  Yung  Sum — Second  quality  from  Korea. 

"Far  Kee  Yung  Sum — Third  quality  from 
America. 

"It  is  estimated  that  last  year  about  3000  piculs 
(400,000  pounds)  of  the  first  quality  was  imported, 
about  500  to  600  piculs  (66,666  to  80,000  pounds)  of 
the  second,  and  some  3000  piculs  of  the  third.  The 
Pekin  ginseng  is  pinkish  in  appearance,  very  hard  and 
smooth,  and  is  free  from  roots  and  small  pieces.  The 


ASIATIC    GINSENG    INDUSTRY    AND    MARKET.  99 

second    is    rather    opaque    and    otherwise    resembles 
the  first. 

"My  correspondent's  lot  embraces  values  all  the 
way  from  $12  to  $40  Mexican  per  catty  (one  catty 
equals  one  and  one-third  pounds),  while  the  dust  will 
not  bring  over  $2  Mexican  a  pound.  These  prices  are 
quite  satisfactory,  considering  his  statement  regarding 
New  York  quotations.  There  is  no  reason  why  there 
should  not  be  a  large  and  growing  market  for  Amer- 
ican ginseng,  and  I  would  like  to  see  it  thoroughly 
exploited.  This  can  be  done  only  by  sending  a  trial 
shipment  of,  say,  two  thousand  pounds  of  selected 
pieces,  the  large  pieces,  of  course,  being  the  best. 

"Instead  of  shipping  to  this  consulate  in  the  future, 
I  would  recommend  that  all  merchants  correspond 
direct  with  Mr.  A.  O'D.  Gourdin,  of  Hong  Kong,  who 
is  personally  known  to  me  and  who  would  give  the 
matter  his  careful  attention.  There  are  no  Chinese 
firms  here  with  whom  it  would  be  possible  for  the 
American  exporter  to  deal  direct.  The  American 
ginseng  that  comes  to  this  market  is  for  the  most  part 
purchased  by  Chinese  firms  located  in  New  York  and 
shipped  hither  at  a  great  profit  to  themselves,  so  that 
it  would  be  very  much  to  the  advantage  of  the  Amer- 
ican exporter  to  deal  direct  with  a  responsible  agent 
here.  I  trust  that  this  report  will  be  read  in  connection 
with  my  previous  one,  for  I  believe  that  if  the  exporter 
will  follow  out  the  directions  contained  in  both,  there 
will  be  little  difficulty  in  disposing  on  this  coast  of  all 
the  ginseng  that  is  grown  in  America." 

On  January  28,  1902,  Consul-General  W.  A.  Rublee 
writes  an  article  with  the  same  title  in  United  States 
Consular  Reports,  Vol.  69,  which  article  is  also  quoted 
in  full : 

"The  sale  of  ginseng  root  grown  in  America, 
about  which  there  have  been  several  inquiries  at  this 
consulate  by  interested  parties  in  the  United  States,  is 


100  PRESENT   STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 

very  considerable  in  Hong  Kong,  and  the  demand  is  so 
great  that  much  more  could  be  disposed  of  advantage- 
ously. The  ginseng  root  is  as  indispensable  to  the 
well-to-do  Chinese  as  is 'their  rice.  They  attribute  all 
sorts  of  medicinal  virtues  to  the  root,  especially  using 
it  as  a  stimulant.  The  growth  of  the  ginseng  trade  has 
been  marked  in  recent  years,  and  higher  prices  are  now 
paid  by  dealers  than  ever  before,  especially  during  the 
last  three  years.  American  growers  of  ginseng  may 
confidently  expect  a  steadily  increasing  market  in 
Hong  Kong,  although  it  is  largely  only  a  distributing 
center.  The  root  is  prepared  in  this  city.  The  skin 
is  cleaned  and  smoothed  by  a  special  process,  sorted 
out  in  equal  sizes,  put  up  in  neat  boxes  of  various 
capacities,  according  to  quality,  and  re-exported  to  all 
the  consuming  districts  in  China.  The  bulk  of  the 
shipments  goes  to  the  northern  ports,  such  as  Shanghai, 
Hankan,  Tientsin,  and  Chefoo,  although  a  fair  pro- 
portion finds  its  way  to  Canton  and  the  coast  ports — 
Amoy,  Swatow,  and  Fuchau;  also  to  Formosa,  and 
other  markets  where  there  are  Chinese. 

"The  average  value  of  American  ginseng  annually 
received  at  Hong  Kong  is  from  $1,700,000  to  $1,800,- 
ooo  Mexican  ($763,300  to  $808,200  gold).  On  Jan- 
uary i,  1902,  the  Mexican  dollar  was  valued  by  the 
United  States  Mint  at  forty-four  and  nine-tenths  cents. 

"The  value  of  the  Chinese  ginseng  annually 
imported  is  estimated  at  about  $100,000  Mexican 
($44,900).  The  quantity  is  small,  but  its  value  is 
computed  at  twenty  to  forty  times  its  weight  in  silver, 
according  to  quality.  The  importation  of  Korean 
ginseng  root  is  valued  at  about  $800,000'  ($359,200) 
a  year. 

"The  prices  of  ginseng  vary  according  to  quality. 
The  wild,  dried  American  root,  as  imported  at  Hong 
Kong,  may  be  classified  into  three  grades,  generally 
known  to  the  trade  as  'fair,'  'good/  and  'extra'  or 


ASIATIC    GINSENG    INDUSTRY    AND    MARKET.         101 

'selected.'  The  values  per  picul  (one  hundred  thirty- 
three  and  one-third  pounds)  of  these  grades,  as  based 
on  sales  made  during  the  last  three  years,  were : 


GRADE 

VALUE 

Mexican 

Gold 

Fair 
Good 
Selected 

$1420 
1560 
1930 

$637.58 
700.34 
866.57 

"The  present  values  of  these  grades  bring  the  price 
in  American  currency,  respectively,  per  pound,  to  $4.05, 
$5.25,  and  $6.18,  after  deducting  charges,  trade 
discount,  selling  and  guarantee  commissions.  This 
latter  estimate  is  furnished  by  an  experienced  and 
reliable  local  dealer. 

"In  addition  to  the  grades  mentioned  above,  others 
are  imported,  and  among  the  best  is  some  picked  root 
worth  $4460  to  $4500  Mexican  ($2002.54  to  $2020.50) 
per  picul  (one  hundred  thirty-three  and  one-third 
pounds).  Split  root  (cut  lengthwise  in  two  pieces) 
may  be  quoted  at  $1500  Mexican  ($673.50)  per  picul. 
Siftings  (chips  and  dust)  are  also  salable  at  $120  to 
$130  Mexican  ($53.88  to  $58.37)  per  picul.  Very  little 
cultivated  American  root  has  so  far  been  imported  into 
Hong  Kong.  The  value  of  a  few  small  shipments 
averaged  $3200  Mexican  ($1426.80)  per  picul.  The 
cultivated  root  was  much  liked  by  the  native  buyers, 
and  its  cultivation  ought  to  be  encouraged  in  the  United 
States. 

"The  Korean  ginseng-  root  brings  higher  prices 
than  that  from  the  United  States.  Korean  root  in  the 
Hong  Kong  market  is  quoted  as  follows,  per  picul  (one 
hundred  thirty-three  and  one-third  pounds)  : 


PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 


DESCRIPTION 

VALUE 

Mexican 

Gold 

20  roots  to  the  poundj 
30  roots  to  the  pound 
40  roots  to  the  pound 

$6500 
5500 
4500 

$2918.50 
2469.50 
2020.50 

"American  ginseng  growers  should  be  careful  to 
conform  to  the  requirements  of  the  Chinese  markets. 
The  principal  points  are  cleanliness,  good  color  (bright 
yellow),  and  freedom  from  dust  and  chips.  It  is 
desirable  that  the  root  be  sorted  before  it  is  shipped,  so 
that  the  better  qualities  may  be  sold  separately.  How- 
ever, even  unassorted  ginseng  root  of  any  quality  is 
salable  according  to  its  merit.  Ginseng  may  be  shipped 
in  any  quantity,  and  should  be  packed  in  strong  wooden 
casks  or  cases  of  a  capacity  of  from  one  hundred  to 
two  hundred  pounds.  Old  whiskey  casks  might  be 
used,  but  they  should  be  quite  dry  before  the  root  is 
packed.  If  the  root  is  packed  in  a  wet  condition,  it 
becomes  moldy  and  deteriorates.  The  clarified  root  is 
liked  by  purchasers  here,  and  its  value  is,  as  a  rule, 
higher  than  that  of  the  crude  root.  There  is  no  partic- 
ular process  of  clarification  in  Hong  Kong,  but  the 
Korean  root  is  clarified  with  honey. 

''American  ginseng  exporters  desirous  of  making 
shipments  to  Hong  Kong  will  find  it  to  their  advantage 
to  communicate  with  F.  J.  V.  Jorge,  24  Bank  Build- 
ings, Hong  Kong.  Mr.  Jorge  has  handled  American 
ginseng  for  over  twenty  years  and  is  perhaps  the  most 
experienced  Hong  Kong  merchant  in  this  line.  He 
has  recently  established  an  independent  commission 
business,  and  is  in  a  position  to  act  as  agent  for  Amer- 
ican firms.  I  mention  his  name  in  order  that  those 
interested  in  the  ginseng  trade  may,  if  they  so  desire, 
enter  into  business  relations  with  someone  in  Hong 
Kong.  Mr.  Jorge  can  doubtless  furnish  satisfactory 


ASIATIC    GINSENG   INDUSTRY   AND    MARKET.          103 

references  through  the  banks,  and  his  familiarity  with 
the  ginseng  trade  recommends  him  to  American 
exporters  of  this  article."  • 

Mr.  S.  lida  writes  of  the  condition  of  "Ginseng 
in  Korea"  as  follows  in  American  Gardening,  March 
i,  1902: 

"There  seems  to  be  a  renewal  of  the  once  perennial 
trouble  about  ginseng  in  Korea.  This  valuable  root 
is  grown  in  considerable  quantities  in  the  peninsula, 
especially  in  the  neighborhood  of  Kaisong,  in  Kyong- 
ki-do,  which  is  near  Seoul.  The  cultivators  have  never 
been  allowed  to  dispose  of  the  root  on  their  own 
account.  The  business  has  always  been  a  government 
monopoly.  In  old  times,  when  Korea  sent  annual 
tribute  to  China,  her  envoys  used  to  carry  with  them 
the  year's  exportable  supply  of  ginseng,  which  they 
sold  as  best  they  could  to  Chinese  merchants.  But 
when  Korea  acquired,  her  independence,  under  Japan's 
auspices,  in  1896,  it  became  necessary  for  the  Seoul 
authorities  to  provide  some  other  means  of  disposing 
of  the  root.  They  therefore  established  agencies  at 
suitable  places  in  China. 

"Meanwhile,  Japanese  adventurers,  fcaking  advan- 
tage of  the  discontent  caused  among  the  cultivators  by 
the  extremely  low  prices  at  which  they  were  compelled 
to  part  with  their  produce  to  the  government,  repaired 
to  Kaisong,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  large  quanti- 
ties of  the  root.  Things  went  merrily  enough  until 
this  illegal  trading  began  to  bear  its  inevitable  fruit. 
Some  of  the  Japanese,  secure  against  open  complaint 
on  the  part  of  the  Korean  cultivators,  obtained  supplies 
of  ginseng  on  the  credit  of  promissory  notes  which 
they  never  redeemed. 

"Finally  these  irregularities  became  so  flagrant 
that,  after  much  consultation,  it  was  decided  to  entrust 
to  a  Japanese  firm  the  whole  business  of  selling  the 
ginseng.  The  Mitsui  Bussan  Kaisha  were  selected, 


104  PRESENT   STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 

and  since  last  year  they  have  been  carrying  on  the 
work,  paying  cash  to  the  government  immediately  on 
receipt  of  the  root  and  then  exporting  and  disposing 
of  it  at  the  firm's  risk.  It  is  a  big  business,  involving 
a  floating  capital  of  over  a  million  yen  annually,  and 
whether  the  results  have  thus  far  been  favorable  to  the 
Japanese  firm  we  do  not  know,  but  rumor  says  that 
they  do  not  succeed  in  collecting  their  money  from  the 
Chinese  consumers  as  promptly  as  they  themselves  pay 
over  the  purchase  price  to  the  Korean  authorities.  The 
point  is,  however,  that  a  new  invasion,  of  adventurers 
has  taken  place  at  Kaisong,  this  being  the  time  for 
harvesting  the  crop,  and  that  some  seventy  persons, 
Japanese  and  Koreans  in  collusion,  are  resorting  to  all 
sorts  of  devices  to  evade  the  official  monopoly.  Appli- 
cation has  been  made  by  the  Korean  government  to 
Mr.  Hayashi,  and  it  is  said  that  the  matter  is  causing 
some  trouble." 

Minister  H.  N.  Allen,  of  Seoul,  under  date  of  May 
28,  1902,  sends  a  report  on  the  Korean  ginseng  crop 
for  1901,  as  follows: 

"The  crop  of  Korean  ginseng  for  1901  has  been 
sold  to  a  Japanese  firm  for  1,255,500  yen  ($625,239). 
It  amounted,  with  beard,  to  52,000  catties  (68,120 
pounds).  After  purchasing  this  ginseng,  the  pur- 
chasers deliberately  burned  10,000  catties  (13,100 
pounds),  as  the  supply  was  in  excess  of  the  demand. 
It  is  said  that  a  considerable  portion  of  last  year's 
supply  still  remains  unsold  in  China,  and  that  this 
year's  crop  in  Korea  was  enough  for  nearly  three 
years'  consumption.  The  market  is  limited,  as  the 
Chinese  are  about  the  only  consumers.  Although 
ginseng  is  regularly  raised  in  various  parts  of  Korea, 
only  that  raised  upon  the  imperial  farms  at  Songdo  is 
said  to  have  the  real  virtues  claimed  for  the  root  as  a 
medicine.  These  Songdo  plantations  are  the  only  ones 
that  are  guarded  with  care.  The  soil  is  a  disintegrated 


ASIATIC    GINSENG   INDUSTRY   AND    MARKET.          105 

granite.  For  the  past  few  years  the  annual  crop  has 
been  growing  larger;  15,000  catties  (19,650  pounds) 
has  been  regarded  as  the  normal  quantity,  but  by 
gathering  it  at  five  years  instead  of  seven,  and  by 
increasing  the  number  of  beds,  the  supply  has  finally 
exceeded  the  demand.  This  must  be  of  interest  to  the 
number  of  Americans  who  have  of  late  gone  into 
ginseng  culture." 

In  reply  to  inquiries  by  a  New  York  correspond- 
ent, Consul  James  W.  Ragsdale,  of  Tientsin,  under 
date  of  June  26,  1902,  writes  in  Consular  Reports : 

"There  are  four  principal  kinds  of  ginseng  known 
to  the  trade — the  native,  which  comes  from  Kirin  and 
its  neighborhood ;  the  Korean,  the  American,  and  the 
Japanese.  Miraculous  healing  properties  are  ascribed 
to  the  Kirin  ginseng,  and  it  commands  a  very  high 
price,  the  best  specimens  being  sold  at  two  hundred  to 
six  hundred  times  their  weight  in  silver.  Only  the 
wealthy,  of  course,  can  indulge  in  this  costly  drug,  but 
such  is  the  faith  of  all  classes  of  China  in  the  life- 
giving  virtues  of  the  plant  that  even  the  poorer  classes 
make  tremendous  sacrifices  to  obtain  it,  in  cases  of 
emergency.  Owing  to  the  immense  demand  and  the 
limited  supply  in  the  wild  state,  the  farmers  near  Kirin 
are  doing  a  thriving  business  in  cultivating  ginseng, 
although  it  commands  only  a  fraction  of  the  price  that 
is  paid  for  it  in  a  wild  condition. 

"Korean  ginseng  is  next  in  cost,  the  prices  ranging 
from  $5  to  $75  ($2.07  to  $31.12)  per  catty  (one  and 
one-third  pounds),  according  to  size  and  quality,  one 
Mexican  dollar  equaling  forty-one  and  one-half  cents. 
The  consumption  of  Korean  ginseng  must  be  enor- 
mous, but  no  statistics  are  available,  as  most  of  it  is 
smuggled  over  the  border  from  Korea  to  China. 

"American  ginseng  is  becoming  more  widely 
known  and  more  popular  every  year,  especially  in  the 
southern  provinces.  In  the  last  few  years,  the  prices 


106  PRESENT   STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

paid  for  it  have  more  than  doubled.  In  the  province 
of  Chinkiang,  American  ginseng  is  in  special  demand. 
Almost  everybody  takes  it  in  the  spring  as  a  tonic. 
The  retail  prices  prevailing  at  present  are: 


DESCRIPTION 

PRICE 

Mexican 

United  States 

Best,             per  ounce 
Good  to  fair,         do 
Fair  to  common,  do 

$2.50 
1.00 
$0.50  to  1.00 

$1.04 
.415 
$0.207  to     .415 

"The  cheapest  ginseng  comes  from  Japan;  it  is 
used  principally  by  those  who  cannot  afford  the  other 
kinds. 

"There  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  profitable  business 
can  be  done  in  this  article,  if  the  trade  is  properly 
pushed  by  Chinese  agents  of  good  social  standing. 
Wild  ginseng  [Manchurian]  commands  a  much  higher 
price  in  China  than  the  cultivated  article." 

LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS 

An  attempt  was  made  to  get  letters  of  experiences 
from  many  growers  throughout  the  land  for  the  pur- 
pose of  including  them  in  this  book.  It  is  to  be 
regretted,  however,  that  so  few  men  were  willing  to 
write  at  all  and  that  the  majority  of  those  who  did 
send  letters,  wrote  so  little  that  might  be  of  interest  to 
the  general  reader.  Since  the  author  wishes  to  keep 
in  close  touch  with  ginseng  culture  as  it  gradually  but 
surely  rises  to  the  dignity  of  an  industry,  he  will  keep 
a  register  of  growers  and  dealers.  He,  therefore, 
requests  all  such  to  send  him  their  addresses  on  a  postal 
card,  with  the  words  ginseng  grower,  or  ginseng 
dealer,  etc. 

Mr.  George  C.  Foulk  describes  in  Foreign  Rela- 
tions of  the  United  States,  1885,  the  ginseng  gardens 
of  Korea  and  the  methods  of  growing  the  crop  there 
as  follows : 


LETTERS   FROM    GROWERS.  107 

"Each  farm  is  a  rectangular  compound,  one  part 
containing  the  buildings  inclosed  by  walls,  the  rest  by 
hedges.  The  buildings,  though  built  as  usual  of  mud, 
stones,  earthenware,  and  untrimmed  timbers,  and 
thatched,  are  strikingly  superior  to  the  other  houses 
of  the  Korean  people.  They  are  built  in  right  lines, 
interiors  neatly  arranged,  and  walks  and  hedges  in 
good  order.  In  each  compound  are  one  or  more  tall 
little  watch  towers,  in  which  a  regular  lookout  is  held 
over  the  farm  to  prevent  raids  of  thieves,  who  might 
make  off  with  paying  amounts  in  handfuls  of  ginseng. 

"Beyond  the  buildings,  occupying  the  remaining 
space  in  the  compound,  are  parallel  rows  of  low,  dark 
mat  sheds,  with  roofs  sloping  downward  toward  the 
south  or  southwest.  These  rows  are  from  seventy-five 
to  two  hundred  feet  long  and  four  feet  apart,  and  the 
mat  sheds  about  four  feet  high  at  their  front  (north) 
sides,  which  are  closed  by  mats  which  swing  from  the 
top,  thus  giving  access  to  the  farmer  in  his  care  of  the 
plants.  Within  the  sheds  are  beds  about  eight  inches 
high  for  the  growing  ginseng  plants,  which  are  in  rows 
extending  across  the  beds,  about  two  feet  long. 

"The  row  (or  shed)  nearest  the  houses  is  the  seed 
bed  for  all  the  plants  grown  on  the  farm.  ...  In 
the  Korean  ninth  month  (September-October)  the 
seeds  are  stuck  quite  thickly  in  the  seed  bed  to  a  depth 
of  three  inches  in  little  watering  trenches  about  three 
inches  apart.  Once  in  each  three  days'  interval  during 
its  whole  life  the  plant  is  watered,  and  the  bed  carefully 
inspected  to  prevent  crowding,  decay,  and  the  ravages 
of  worms  and  insects.  The  mat  shed  is  kept  closely 
shut,  for  ginseng  will  only  grow  in  the  dark  or  a  very 
weak  light. 

"The  mats  of  the  sheds  are  made  of  round,  brown 
reeds  and  vines  closely  stitched  together,  admitting 
only  the  faintest  light. 

"In  the  second  month  of  the  second  vear  after 


108  PKESENT  STATUS  OJP   THE 

planting  (February)  the  root  is  regarded  as  formed 


FIG     l8.      KOREAN     GINSENG 

and  the    general  shape    of  the    plant    above  ground 


LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS.  109 

attained.  [A  typical  Korean  ginseng  root,  engraved 
from  a  photograph,  furnished  by  Mr.  H.  P.  Kelsey,  is 
shown  in  Fig.  18.]  The  shape  is  nearly  that  of  the 
matured  plant.  ...  In  the  following  February 
(of  the  third  year)  the  seed  plants  are  transplanted  to 
the  adjoining  beds,  five  or  six  to  each  cross  row,  the 
watering  trenches  being  here  between  the  plant  rows. 
In  this  second  bed  the  plants  remain  one  year,  and  are 
then  transplanted  to  the  third  bed,  and  planted  still 
farther  apart  in  their  respective  rows.  A  year  later 
they  are  again  transplanted,  this  time  to  their  final  beds, 
where  they  remain  two  and  a  half  or  three  years. 
Generally  speaking,  seven  years  are  required  from  the 
time  of  planting  until  the  plant  is  matured.  After  its 
life  in  the  seed  bed,  exacting  care  in  keeping  out  the 
light  is  not  so  necessary,  and  I  noticed  the  swinging 
mat  was  removed  entirely  from  the  fronts  of  sheds  of 
plants  in  the  final  beds." 

Mr.  Nicholas  Pike,  formerly  United  States  Consul 
at  Port  Louis,  Mauritius,  writes  of  the  Chinese 
methodarthus : 

|FTwo  methods  of  cultivating  ginseng  are  followed 
by  the  Chinese,  viz.,  growing  from  seed,  and  trans- 
planting young  plants  found  in  the  wild  state.  A  spot 
is  selected  in  the  dark,  damp  woods,  generally  where 
the  soil  is  rich  and  loamy.  The  seeds  are  gathered 
when  they  drop  from  the  plant  to  the  ground.  After 
the  soil  is  dug  over,  these  seeds  are  sown  broadcast, 
and  covered  with  dead  leaves  partially  decomposed. 
This  plantation  they  call  their  nursery.  In  from  fifteen 
to  eighteen  months  the  young  shoots  appear  above  the 
ground,  and  as  soon  as  they  are  two  or  three  inches 
high  they  are  removed  to  the  permanent  plantation,  and 
in  three  years  more  the  roots  are  ready  for  the  market. 
Whenever  a  root  is  taken  from  the  ground  a  young 
plant  is  set  in  its  place,  so  that  a  plantation  once  formed 
is  producing  all  the  time/' 


110  PRESENT    STATUS    OF     THE    INDUSTRY. 

Messrs.  E.  D.  and  M.  S.  Crosley,  Tula,  N.  Y. : 
"As  to  the  expense  of  seed  and  plants,  we  paid  during 
the  years  1897,  1899  and  1900,  $44.50.  The  plants  that 
we  bought  were  wild  roots  purchased  at  from  eighty 
cents  to  $i  a  pound.  We  have  set  only  thrifty  plants 
and  have  dried  and  sold  enough  to  pay  more  than  the 
whole  cost.  We  dug  what  we  could  ourselves.  So 
our  only  expense  for  enough  to  set  one-half  acre  at 
Tula  and  28,000  in  Truxton  was  $44.50. 

"By  carefully  studying  the  analyses  of  the  root, 
and  by  experimenting  to  find  the  best  way  to  apply  fer- 
tilizers from  the  start,  we  have  found  that  it  is  possible 
to  produce  eight-ounce  roots  in  four  years  from  small 
wild  roots.  Cultivated  roots  grow  more  evenly  and 
produce  a  greater  average  of  seed." 

Mr.  B.  L.  Hart,  Rose  Hill,  N.  Y. :  "We  dug  a 
small  portion  of  one  of  our  beds  of  four-year-old  roots 
in  October  to  note  the  weights  of  the  roots,  and  the 
largest  of  them  weighed  five  ounces,  green,  while  the 
smallest  weighed  three  ounces,  making  an  average  of 
about  four  ounces  to  the  root,  green.  Three  pounds  of 
the  cultivated  roots,  green,  will  make  one  pound  of 
the  dry. 

"We  raised  in  the  neighborhood  of  300,000  seed- 
lings the  past  season  and  judged  that  ninety  per  cent 
of  the  seeds  we  sowed  in  the  fall  of  1900  germinated 
and  produced  plants.  In  this  section  the  seed  crop  was 
rather  light,  on  account  of  so  much  unfavorable  wet 
weather,  but  our  three-year-old  plants  made  a  yield  of 
about  sixty  seeds  to  the  plant. 

"It  is  very  true  that  there  has  been  but  a  limited 
amount  of  figures  given  of  the  yield  and  profits  in 
cultivating  ginseng  from  actual  shipments,  and  from 
what  we  can  see  at  present,  it  will  be  several  years 
before  the  enterprise  will  develop  to  this  extent.  Our 
present  gardens  cover  an  area  of  one  and  one-quarter 
acres,  which  is  stocked  with  in  the  neighborhood  of 


(  UNI 


^ 
UNM:    ,  ;ry 

LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS^  ^  (  111  , 

^"^fto^-. '  ._£.  f   __ 

250,000  and  300,000  plants  of  different  ages.  The 
oldest  will  be  five  in  the  spring  and  we  have  also 
planted  a  large  amount  of  seeds  of  the  1900  crop  that 
will  produce  plants  this  spring." 

Mr.  Charles  B.  Parent,  Birchton,  N.  Y. :  "In  the 
fall  of  1896  I  began  the  cultivation  of  ginseng  by 
planting  about  a  thousand  roots ;  the  next  fall  two 
hundred  more  roots  and  two  ounces  of  seed;  in  1898, 
two  hundred  roots  and  five  ounces  of  seed;  in  1899, 
three  hundred  roots  and  twelve  ounces  of  seed.  In 

1900  I  transplanted  from  my  nursery  bed  three  hundred 
and  fifty  roots  and  sowed  about  one  pound  of  seed. 
Previous  to  1900  I  bought  my  increase  of  roots.     In 

1901  I  transplanted  about  twenty-nine  hundred  roots 
and  planted  about  a  pound  of  seeds. 

"In  the  fall,  1901,  I  dug  from  my  oldest  bed  of 
roots  to  the  amount  of  eight  and  one-half  pounds,  dried. 
Seven  and  one-half  pounds  sold  for  $7.50  per  pound — 
the  product  of  about  fifteen  square  feet  of  ground. 
Previous  to  this  digging  I  had  taken  out  three  pounds 
nine  ounces,  dried.  These  were  removed  for  the 
purpose  of  thinning  out,  the  plants  being  somewhat 
crowded.  I  have  now  an  area  of  one  hundred  feet  by 
forty-eight  stocked  with  roots  and  seeds,  the  roots  from 
one  to  six  years  old  and  seed  that  will  come  up  next 
spring,  1902.  The  dried  roots  sold  yielded  $198.74. 
Since  beginning  I  value  the  seeds  at  $500 — not  a  high 
valuation.  [A  partial  view  of  .Mr.  Parent's  ginseng 
garden  at  Ballston  Spa,  N.  Y.,  is  seen  in  Fig.  19.] 

"Anyone  thinking  of  growing  this  root  for  market 
should  take  into  consideration  the  time  required  to 
place  the  business  on  a  paying  basis.  If  good  two- 
year-old  rot)ts  be  planted  they  should  become  market- 
able in  four  years — six  years  from  the  seed.  This  is 
not  an  estimate  of  what  should  be,  but  what  can  be 
done  if  proper  care  be  given  the  plant  during  this 
whole  time  of  growth.  Some  will  grow  a  good  article 


112 


PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 


of  a  certain  vegetable  or  fruit  while  another  will  not; 
attention  to  details  is  essential  in  this  line  as  in  other 
works.  The  statement  has  been  made  that  ginseng 


"is  easy  to  raise."  I  have  found  it  required  something 
besides  ease  to  grow  a  good  article.  I  have  carried 
this  work  along  in  connection  with  other  farm  work." 


LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS.  113 

Mr.  C.  D.  Nusbaum,  Jonesboro,  111.:  "In  May, 
1900,  I  selected  a  number  of  roots  from  a  lot  that  had 
been  washed  clean  and  brought  to  market,  and  set 
them  under  the  lattice  in  my  nursery;  they  are  now 
growing  nicely.  Transplanting  in  the  spring,  how- 
ever, after  the  leaf  stock  has  appeared  will  retard  the 
growth  for  that  season,  consequently  it  is  best  to  do 
transplanting  either  early  in  the  spring,  say  during 
March  and  April,  before  the  tops  appear,  or  in  the  fall 
after  the  plant  has  attained  its  growth  for  the  season. 
In  this  locality  (southern  Illinois)  planting  may  be 
begun  August  ist  and  continue  till  the  ground 
freezes. 

"The  two  principal  requirements  in  ginseng  cul- 
ture are  rich  soil  and  shade.  The  kind  of  soil  does  not 
matter  so  much  just  so  it  is  rich  in  humus  or  decayed 
vegetable  matter.  My  nursery  is  situated  on  ordinary 
clay  soil  that  is  well-drained  upland  and  was  fertilized 
with  well-rotted  horse  manure  and  woods  soil.  The 
location  of  a  ginseng  garden  should  always  be  on  land 
that  is  well  drained  and  level  or  sloping  toward  the 
north  or  east.  A  lattice  shade  should  be  erected  on 
posts  high  enough  to  allow  one  to  walk  erect  under  it. 
The  lattice  may  be  made  of  ordinary  plastering  lath 
nailed  on  one-half  inch  apart.  In  the  North  where 
the  snowfall  is  heavy  the  lattice  should  be  made  in 
sections  eight  feet  long  so  that  it  can  be  removed  in 
winter.  [The  arrangement  of  these  lattice  frames, 
together  with  some  eight  to  ten-year-old  wild  plants 
transplanted  from  the  forest  in  the  fall  of  1900,  are 
shown  in  Fig.  20.] 

"Under  this  lattice  the  beds  should  be  made,  leav- 
ing an  eighteen-inch  walk  between  each  pair  of  beds ; 
four  feet  is  a  convenient  width  for  the  beds  and  they 
should  be  framed  with  eight-inch  boards  held  in  place 
by  stakes.  It  is  necessary  to  have  the  walks  between  the 
beds  so  that  the  beds  can  be  attended  to  without  step- 


114 


PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 


ping  on  the  soil.  If  one  is  starting  in  a  small  way  and 
does  not  care  to  incur  the  expense  of  erecting  the, 
lattice  on  posts  the  beds  may  be  framed  twelve  to 
fifteen  inches  high,  making  them  four  feet  wide  and 


FIG 


20.    VIEW  OF  A  CORNER  IN  ONE  OF  C.   D. 

NUSBAUM'S   GINSENG   GARDENS 


any  length  convenient.  Then  the  lattice  may  be  made 
in  sections  four  feet  square  and  placed  on  the  frames ; 
they  may  be  removed  when  the  beds  need  attention. 

"To  prepare  the  beds  spread  on  a  good,  dressing  of 
horse  manure  and  work  deeply,  making  the  soil  loose 
and  porous  by  mixing  the  manure  well  with  it.  Give 
the  beds  a  dressing  of  rich  humus  three  or  four  inches 
deep  and  mix  this  well  with  the  soil.  This  will  put  old 


LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS.  135 

and  poor  ground  in  good  condition  for  ginseng.  If 
the  ground  be  rich  garden  soil  so  much  the  better,  but 
treat  it  in  the  same  way.  If  humus  or  rich  woods  soil 
cannot  be  obtained  work  in  plenty  of  manure  and 
unleached  wood  ashes.  After  mixing  well  and  pul- 
verizing, level  off  the  beds  smoothly  and  they  will  be 
ready  to  plant. 

"The  roots  should  be  set  six  or  seven  inches  apart 
each  way,  which  will  give  them  ample  room  to  grow 
to  a  marketable  size.  A  good  device  for  setting  roots 
is  a  planting  board.  Take  two  boards  six  or  seven 
inches  wide  and  long  enough  to  fit  down  easily  cross- 
wise in  the  beds  and  nail  light  strips  across  at  the  ends 
and  center  to  hold  them  together  to  keep  them  from 
warping.  Cut  notches  seven  inches  apart  on  one  edge 
and  place  this  edge  of  the  board  where  you  want  to 
begin  planting.  Now  with  a  spade  open  a  trench  deep 
enough  to  accommodate  the  longest  roots,  place  the 
roots  at  the  notches,  being  careful  to  plant  them  deep 
enough  so  that  the  bud  at  the  top  of  the  roots  will  be 
one  and  one-half  to  two  inches  under  the  soil  when 
covered,  and  draw  the  soil  to  them,  pressing  it  firmly 
around  the  roots,  then  level  off.  Now  place  the 
board  seven  inches  further  on  for  the  next  row  and  so 
continue.  Do  not  step  on  the  beds  where  roots  have 
been  planted  but  stand  on  the  planting  board  while  at 
work.  When  done  planting  give  the  beds  a  light 
dressing  of  manure  or  humus  and  cover  with  a  mulch 
of  dry  leaves  three  or  four  inches  deep  and  lay  on 
some  brush  to  keep  the  leaves  from  blowing  off.  Be 
sure  to  remove  the  brush  in  the  spring  but  let  the  leaf 
mulch  remain. 

"No  stirring  of  the  ground  or  cultivation  will  be 
necessary  except  to  keep  the  beds  free  from  grass  and 
weeds ;  this  should  be  done  with  the  hand,  as  the  roots 
might  be  injured  by  using  a  hoe  or  other  tool.  Each 
fall  after  the  tops  have  died  down,  give  the  beds  a 


116  PRESENT   STATUS   OP  THE    INDUSTRY. 

light  dressing  of  humus,  pulverized  well-rotted  manure 
or  unleached  wood  ashes,  and  a  mulching  of  leaves 
for  protection  during  the  winter  and  to  conserve 
moisture  during  the  hot  months  of  summer.  Some, 
wood  ashes  sprinkled  on  the  beds  while  the  plants  are 
growing  makes  a  good  fertilizer;  just  apply  the  ashes 
without  removing  the  mulch. 

"The  seeds  begin  to  ripen  early  in  August  and 
should  be  gathered  as  they  ripen,  and  as  it  takes  them 
eighteen  months  as  a  rule  to  germinate  they  should  be 
stratified  in  sifted  soil  in  a  strong  box,  which  may  be 
kept  in  a  cellar  and  kept  moist  by  watering  occasion- 
ally, as  the  seed  should  not  be  allowed  to  dry  out 
thoroughly.  [Don't  keep  too  wet,  because  the  seeds 
may  rot.]  The  box  may  be  buried  outside,  letting  it  in 
the  ground  till  the  top  is  three  or  four  inches  below 
the  surface.  The  seed  should  be  kept  in  this  manner 
for  twelve  months,  or  until  the  following  fall,  and  then 
planted. 

"After  the  roots  have  reached  a  good  marketable 
size,  which,  if  two-year-old  roots  have  been  planted 
will  be  in  from  three  to  four  years,  they  should  be  dug 
carefully,  so  as  not  to  cut  or  bruise  them,  and  washed 
clean.  They  may  then  be  dried  in  the  sun  or  in  a 
moderate  artificial  heat,  care  being  taken  to  prevent 
burning  or  scorching  them.  They  will  then  be  ready 
to  pack  in  clean  boxes  for  market." 

Mr.  John  Fraser,  Salem,  N.  Y. :  "Select  any  good 
corn  land;  better  take  that  which  is  free  of  stone,  or 
remove  all  stone  to  the  depth  of  one  foot.  If  the 
ground  be  in  sod,  manure  it  well  and  crop  the  first 
year  with  corn,  cabbage,  or  some  other  farm  crop.  In 
selecting  a  location  better  keep  away  from  shade  trees 
and  all  woodland.  All  experienced  growers  agree 
that  the  best  results  are  obtained  by  garden  or  field 
culture,  under  shade. 

"Having  the  ground  free  of  stone  and  other 
obstructions,  use  well-rotted  manure  at  the  rate  of  one 


LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS.  117 

farm  load  to  two  square  rods  of  ground.  See  that 
the  manure  is  well  rotted,  fine  and  well  broken  up. 
Ginseng  is  not  a  foliage  plant  but  a  root  plant ;  there- 
fore avoid  all  fresh  manure.  Mix  the  manure  with 
the  soil  as  evenly  as  possible  and  divide  the  ground 
into  beds  about  five  feet  wide.  The  beds  should  be 
made  by  driving  stakes  in  the  ground,  nailing  five- 
inch  boards  to  the  stakes,  and  leaving  a  walk  sixteen 
inches  wide  between  the  beds. 

"For  sowing  seed,  sift  fine  manure  through  a 
three-fourths  inch  mesh  sieve  and  cover  the  bed  one 
inch  deep.  Then  mix  this  manure  with  the  surface 
soil  of  the  bed.  I  prefer  to  do  it  with  the  sieve.  Now, 
level  the  bed  smoothly  and  mark  with  a  four-inch 
marker;  in  these  marks  press  a  clapboard,  beveled  to 
an  edge,  one  inch  deep.  Sow  in  these  cracks  either 
seed  or  berries  about  one  inch  apart  and  after  sowing 
go  over  each  row  with  the  sharp  edge  of  the  board  and 
gently  press  each  seed  or  berry  to  the  bottom  of  the 
crack.  Cover  the  seed  by  drawing  the  board  angling 
across  the  rows ;  then  cover  the  beds  with  leaves  three 
or  four  inches  deep.  Some  lay  brush  on  to  keep  the 
leaves  in  place,  but  I  have  never  been  bothered  by 
the  wind. 

"When  the  plantlets  are  coming  up  remove  the 
leaves  and  sow  on  the  bed  hardwood  ashes  at  the  rate 
of  one  peck  per  square  rod ;  and  again  in  two  or  three 
weeks  when  all  plants  have  appeared  repeat  the  applica- 
tion. The  potash  destroys  and  drives  away  numerous 
insects  that  feed  on  the  young  plants  and  prevents 
slumping  off.  Do  not  use  any  nitrate  of  soda  or  other 
fertilizers  rich  in  nitrogen;  such  are  injurious  to  the 
plants. 

"For  setting  roots  we  mark  the  beds  both  ways 
with  a  six-inch  marker,  using  a  dibber  to  make  the 
hole  in  each  square  and  inserting  the  root  with  the 
crown  two  inches  below  the  surface.  With  the  fore- 


118  PRESENT    STATUS    OF   THE     INDUSTRY. 

finger  hold  the  root  in  place,  again  insert  the  dibber 
an  inch  from  the  hole,  pressing  the  earth  firmly  against 
the  root,  especially  at  the  lower  end,  and  smooth  off 
with  the  hand.  For  setting  southern  roots  use  a 
dibber  three  inches  wide  to  make  room  for  the  num- 
erous fibers  or  rootlets.  Northern  roots  are  straight 
like  a  young  parsnip  with  very  few  rootlets.  A  dibber 
that  will  answer  very  well  may  be  made  by  cutting 
about  fourteen  inches  from  the  top  of  a  fork  handle 
and  sharpening  to  a  point. 

"After  setting  cover  the  beds  with  fine  rotten 
manure  about  an  inch  deep,  and  leaves  or  swale  grass 
three  or  four  inches  deep,  which  latter  must  be  removed 
in  the  spring.  We  prepare  our  beds  in  the  fall  for 
setting  roots  in  the  spring — we  dig  and  set  all  our 
cultivated  roots  in  April.  Then  we  need  no  leaf 
mulching  and  we  find  that  roots  set  in  the  spring  will 
not  miss  one  in  a  hundred.  They  will  come  up  better 
and  bear  more  seed  than  those  set  in  the  fall,  but  people 
who  buy  roots  or  who  dig  wild  roots  cannot  set  in 
the  spring,  as  the  time  for  spring  setting  is  limited 
on  account  of  the  quickness  of  the  plant  developing 
its  bud. 

"Several  years  ago  my  son  and  I  thought  we  would 
try  growing  ginseng.  We  had  no  experience  but  had 
read  up  everything  we  could  find  that  had  been  printed 
on  the  subject.  To  make  a  careful  start  we  bought 
in  the  fall  three  hundred  two-year-old  roots  and  three 
ounces  of  stratified  seed  that  would  come  up  the  next 
May.  We  selected  three  kinds  of  soil — clay  loam, 
sandy  loam,  and  slate  loam  in  three  different  fields  on 
the  farm — made  a  seed  bed  in  each  field,  three  and  a 
half  feet  wide  by  twelve  feet  long,  by  standing  boards 
four  inches  wide  on  their  edges  around  each  bed.  We 
sowed  one  ounce  of  seed  and  set  one  hundred  roots  in 
each  bed,  covered  with  leaves  for  the  winter,  fenced  in 
each  bed  with  a  board  fence,  and  in  the  spring  shaded 


LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS.  H9 

the  beds  with  lath  and  brush.    The  bed  that  had  the 


brush  was  just  as  good  as  the  lath  covered  bed  but  not 


120  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE     INDUSTRY. 

so  tidy  or  convenient.  About  every  root  grew  and 
about  eighty-five  seeds  out  of  a  hundred  came  up  and 
did  well  all  summer.  We  were  so  favorably  impressed 
with  the  way  all  three  pieces  prospered  that  we  bought 
several  thousand  roots  and  four  pounds  of  seed  the 
next  fall  and  enlarged  our  grounds  so  that  to-day  we 
can  say  we  are  in  the  swim.  The  three  hundred  two- 
year-old  roots  weighed  at  the  time  of  planting  four  and 
one-half  pounds.  At  the  end  of  the  third  season, 
when  five  years  old,  we  dug  forty-five  pounds  of  green 
roots.  Besides,  we  had  three  years'  seed,  and  the 
last  year's  seed  crop  was  worth  twice  as  much  as  the 
cost  of  the  roots  and  expenses  of  the  three  years'  cul- 
tivation. 

"Some  say :  'I  would  like  to  grow  ginseng  but  it 
takes  too  long;  I  cannot  wait  six  or  eight  years  for 
returns.'  We  are  glad  that  Nature  has  so  fixed  it 
that  man  cannot  shorten  the  time,  for  there  is  where 
the  great  money  profit  comes  in.  Some  advertise  not 
over  twenty-five  roots  at  thirty  cents  per  root  and  not 
over  one  hundred  seeds  at  two  cents  each  to  one 
person ;  another  advertises  to  have  ginseng  growing  in 
the  far  South,  or  on  the  mountain  tops.  We  think  it 
best  to  fling  a  little  shy  of  these  gentlemen,  because  our 
best  growers,  who  never  advertise,  and  yet  have  more 
than  they  can  do  to  take  care  of  the  present  demand  for 
the  roots,  make  no  such  statements. 

"We  have  seen  a  number  start  to  grow  ginseng 
by  getting  a  few  roots  and  seeds  and  planting  them  in 
fence  corners  partly  protected  by  some  sticks  and 
boards.  Soon  after,  these  patches  fail  because  some 
domestic  animal  destroys  the  whole  thing.  Our 
advice  to  those  who  wish  to  try  ginseng  culture  is  to 
read  the  matter  up.  Within  the  last  three  years  there 
have  been  some  good  methods  of  its  culture  printed. 
Then  go  to  some  responsible  grower  and  if  he  cannot 
supply  roots  and  seeds  at  the  market  price  he  will  in 


LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS.  121 

all  probability  know  of  someone  who  can.  Put  only 
a  little  money  in  at  first.  Try  a  bed  four  feet  wide, 
ten  feet  long,  with  a  good  fence  around  it,  and  proper 
shade.  Stock  it  with  seed  and  roots.  With  proper 
care  its  increase  in  a  few  years  will  be  surprising." 

Mr.  W.  A.  Bates,  Cuba,  N.  Y.,  has  over  an  acre  of 
ginseng  under  cultivation,  scenes  of  which  are  pre- 
sented herewith.  Fig.  21  shows  the  process  of  setting 
the  plants,  and  Fig.  22  presents  a  partial  view  of  a 
shaded  plantation. 

Mr.  Bernad  A.  Payson,  Fingal,  Ont.,  Canada: 
"The  following  is  my  experience  in  the  ginseng 
business:  About  three  years  ago,  I  sent  to  Orange 
Judd  Company  and  procured  the  book  written  by  M.  G. 
Kains  on  Ginseng  Culture  which  I  saw  advertised  in 
Farm  and  Home.  I  then  started  out  to  try  and  find  if 
ginseng  grew  in  our  locality.  The  first  afternoon,  I 
found  the  plant  thinly  scattered  through  the  woods  on 
soil  that  did  not  dry  out  in  summer  nor  become  flooded 
in  the  wet  season.  I  generally  found  the  plant  on  a 
heavy  sand  or  a  black  loam.  The  next  three  autumns 
I  gathered  wild  roots  in  the  woods  during  my  spare 
time,  and  as  is  mentioned  Jn  the  book,  I  cut  off  the 
roots  which  were  attached  to  the  necks  of  the  plants 
and  set  them  in  the  ground  to  grow  buds,  which  some 
of  them  did.  But  I  found  that  quite  a  lot  of  them 
would  not  produce  buds  although  I  left  them  in  the 
ground  for  two  years,  so  I  have  discontinued  the  prac- 
tice. Another  reason  for  stopping  is  that  I  think  that 
a  plant  will  produce  more  seed  if  the  roots  be  not  cut 
up  but  planted  just  as  they  are  found. 

"I  have  also  found  that  wild  roots  dug  in  the  woods 
and  carefully  planted  in  the  clearing  under  cover,  will 
start  and  grow  very  fast,  in  fact,  I  believe  they  will 
grow  as  much  in  one  year  in  the  garden  as  they  would 
in  three  years  in  the  woods.  Wild  plants,  as  a  general 
rule,  do  not  produce  as  much .  seed  in  the  woods  on 


122 


PRESENT   STATUS   OF  THE    INDUSTRY. 


LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS.  123 

account  of  too  much  shade.  A  plant  that  will  produce 
from  five  to  twenty  seeds  in  the  woods  will,  I  believe, 
produce  from  twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  in 
the  clearing. 

"In  the  stratifying  of  seeds,  I  have  found  that  two- 
thirds  leaf  mold  and  one-third  sand  or  loam,  is  a  good 
mixture.  I  have  had  success  with  my  seed  put  away 
in  that  preparation.  I  think  that  it  is  a  good  idea  to 
have  the  seed  box  set  out  of  doors  under  a  lattice  roof 
in  the  ginseng  bed  the  following  spring  after  the  seed 
is  gathered.  It  should  be  kept  watered.  Some  of  the 
seed  will  grow  that  spring  and  probably,  by  selection, 
a  variety  may  be  obtained,  the  seed  of  which  will 
sprout  the  spring  after  it  is  gathered.  I  am  working 
along  this  line.  Since  some  seeds  will  start  to  grow 
while  still  stratified  it  is  best  to  have  depth  enough  at 
the  bottom  of  the  box  below  the  seed  for  the  roots  to 
grow  straight  down,  and  not  too  much  on  the  top, 
or  it  will  be  too  deep  for  the  young  plants  to  get 
through. 

"I  have  found  that  wild  Canadian  root,  cultivated 
in  the  garden,  will  come  up  earlier  in  the  spring,  and 
ripen  its  seeds  and  its  roots  about  three  weeks  earlier 
than  the  New  York  cultivated  ginseng,  thus  giving  the 
grower  a  better  chance  to  dig  and  dry  his  crop  of  roots 
before  the  cold  damp  weather  sets  in,  especially  if  it  is 
to  be  dried  in  the  heat  of  the  sun. 

"In  regard  to  the  distance  between  plants,  I  think 
that  six  inches  each  way  is  too  close,  especially  for 
large  plants.  They  will  grow  more  seed,  I  believe, 
if  not  planted  too  closely.  As  to  the  proper  time  to 
plant  seed,  I  think  it  does  not  make  any  very  great 
difference  as  long  as  planting  is  done  in  the  fall.  I 
have  planted  seed  when  I  had  to  shovel  the  snow  off 
the  ground,  and  at  night  had  to  cover  the  beds  with 
boards  to  keep  them  from  freezing.  In  regard  to 
covering,  I  have  found  that  brush  has  to  be  put  on  very 


124 


PRESENT   STATUS    OP   THE    INDUSTRY. 


thickly  to  take  the  place  of  lath,  and  I  think  that  during 
a  heavy  fall  of  snow  the  roof  might  be  crushed  in. 

"Concerning  the  preparation  of  the  soil,  too  much 
work  cannot  be  put  on  it  in  the  way  of  enriching  it 
[look  out  for  too  much  nitrogen]  and  adding  such 
things  as  will  tend  to  keep  the  soil  loose  and  of  the 
same  texture  as  the  top  soil  is  in  the  woods.  I  have 
found  that  the  ginseng  develops  its  fibrous  roots  in  the 
direction  in  which  the  most  nutriment  lies;  the  main 
roots  will  do  the  same.  It  is  advisable  to  have  the 
soil  richer  at  the  bottom  than  at  the  top  so  as  to  produce 


FIG    23.      CORNER    IN    HARLAN    P.     KELSEY's    GINSENG    NURSERY 

a  good,  straight  tap  root  and  less  side  roots.  I  have 
found  that  the  plants  will  send  their  fibrous  roots 
straight  up  if  the  soil  be  very  rich  and  moist  on  the 
surface. 

"It  is  a  good  idea  to  watch  the  beds  to  see  that  mice 
do  not  work  underneath  the  covering-  in  the  seed  beds 


LETTERS  FROM  GROWERS. 

during  the  winter.  I  think  it  might  be  a  good  idea  to 
put  woven  wire  around  the  seed  beds  to  protect  them 
from  mice." 

[To  show  the  extensive  range  of  ginseng  cultiva- 
tion in  America  we  present  in  Fig.  23  a  corner  in 
the  ginseng  gardens  of  Harlan  P.  Kelsey,  Kawana, 
N.  C] 

Mr.  George  Stanton,  Apulia,  N.  Y. :  "The  Chi- 
nese ginseng  farm  at  Apulia  Station,  N.  Y.,  has  now 
about  fifty  square  rods  of  ground  stocked  with  roots 
and  seed  sown.  The  seed  crop  of  the  past  season  was 
fifty  pounds,  which  can  be  sold  for  $5  to  $6  an  ounce 
or  $70  to  $80  a  pound,  and  was  the  product  of  less 
than  a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  seed-bearing  plants. 
Ginseng  culture  is  having  a  great  boom.  Demand  for 
stock  much  greater  than  supply.  We  closed  the 
season  this  year  with  orders  for  more  than  six  thou- 
sand roots  which  we  could  not  supply.  We  had 
shipped  more  than  17,300  roots  and  nearly  forty 
pounds  seed  during  the  season. 

"We  are  learning  the  importance  of  thorough 
drainage  for  ginseng  culture.  Our  experience  with 
clay  hard-pan  subsoil  and  imperfect  drainage  has  been 
very  unsatisfactory,  resulting  in  loss  of  roots  from 
rot.  Such  soil  should  be  tile  drained.  But,  if  possi- 
ble, deep  loamy  soil  should  always  be  used ;  if  slightly 
sandy  all  the  better. 

"We  are  also  forcibly  impressed  with  the  impor- 
tance of  humus  in  the  soil.  This  leads  us  to  the  natural 
conclusion  that  it  is  not  safe  to  put  ginseng  into  ground 
from  which  a  crop  of  matured  roots  has  been  taken  for 
market.  Practical  experience  has  confirmed  this  con- 
clusion. Ginseng  does  not  supply  humus  to  the  soil, 
and  the  four  or  six  years  required  to  produce  a  crop 
will  entirely  exhaust  the  humus.  This  is  a  lesson  we 
did  not  like  to  learn.  After  putting  up  framework 


126  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE    INDUSTRY. 

for  shading  and  constructing  beds  we  had  hoped  to 
replace  the  crop  indefinitely.  But  nature  has  certain 
requirements  that  man  must  recognize  or  meet  with 
disappointment. 

"Another  forcible  argument  against  succession  of 
crops  is  that  disease  and  insect  pests  are  likely  to  get 
into  the  soil,  and  though  perhaps  the  smallest,  nema- 
todes  are  by  no  means  of  the  least  importance.  While 
we  do  not  know  much  about  these  minute  creatures, 
their  work  is  plainly  visible  in  the  form  of  nodules 
from  the  size  of  a  turnip  seed  to  that  of  a  marble  on 
the  fibrous  rootlets.  Enlargements  are  often  formed 
on  the  body  of  the  root  and  around  the  neck  also. 
I  have  seen  them  as  large  as  a  hen's  egg  on  the  neck 
of  a  root.  When  opened  they  show  a  large  number 
of  minute  red  cells  in  which  the  nematodes  breed, 
though  the  outer  surface  is  smooth  and  white.  The 
tendency  is  to  impair  the  vitality  and  lessen  the  seed 
production  of  the  plant.  In  time  softening  and  degen- 
eration of  the  affected  parts  takes  place,  and  ultimately 
more  or  less  decay  of  the  root.  We  think  they  also 
work  in  what  seems  like  red  rust  on  the  bodies  of 
roots,  where  they  form  slight  depressions;  and  in  the 
fibrous  rootlets  of  old  roots,  destroying  the  entire 
system  of  feeders,  resulting  in  consumption  of  root. 
We  are  coming  to  the  conclusion  that  it  may  not  be 
possible  to  cultivate  ginseng  without  nematodes.  We 
find  them  scattered  over  a  considerable  area,  and  not 
only  in  garden  culture,  but  also  on  wild  roots  and  in 
forest  nurseries.  Professor  Slingerland  says  they  are 
found  on  clematis  roots  and  that  they  are  a  great  pest 
in  the  German  sugar  beet  fields.  We  have  seen  them 
on  sugar  beets  in  this  country.  We  would  caution 
against  planting  infected  stock.  When  the  nodules 
are  confined  to  the  rootlets  they  may  be  picked  off, 
but,  with  all  the  precautions  that  may  be  taken,  very 
likely  they,  will  be  found  when  roots  are  dug  for 


LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS.  ^ 

market.  We  think  it  will  be  fatal  to  put  ginseng 
seed  into  ground  known  to  be  infected  with 
nematodes. 

"It  should  be  the  aim  of  every  grower  to  produce 
the  best  possible  quality  of  root  for  market  in  order  to 
build  up  and  maintain  a  high  reputation  for  cultivated 
ginseng.  The  demand  of  the  Chinese  market  is  for 
solid,  heavy  roots.  A  large,  light  root  is  not  as 
desirable  as  a  heavy,  small  one.  To  reach  best  results, 
growth  should  be  rapid  and  continuous,  with  liberal 
fertilizing.  Roots  should  be  taken  up  when  in  best 
prime  condition.  To  determine  how  long  they  should 
be  left  in  the  ground  to  attain  best  results  is  a  problem 
not  easy  to  solve.  From  the  experience  and  observa- 
tion of  ten  years  we  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
four  to  six  years  is  long  enough  to  keep  transplanted 
roots  in  the  ground.  Much  may  depend  upon  soil, 
climate  and  other  conditions,  but  it  is  safe  to  assume 
that  when  a  bed  of  plants  commences  to  go  back,  and 
the  seed  crop  is  less  than  the  year  before,  the  plants 
should  be  dug.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  age 
does  not  indicate  quality.  We  often  find  wild  roots 
showing  over  sixty  years'  growth  not  nearly  as  large 
nor  as  heavy  as  some  not  more  than  fifteen  or  twenty 
years  old.  Like  old  people,  after  a  certain  age  they 
lose  their  vitality  and  vigor. 

"With  the  intensive  culture  applied  to  this  plant  we 
are  producing  heavy  seed  crops  at  the  expense  of  seed 
production.  With  high  price  of  seed  the  tendency  is 
to  keep  roots  in  the  ground  too  long.  The  real  value 
of  ginseng  culture  is  production  of  root  for  the 
Chinese  market,  which  is  willing  to  pay  good  prices  for 
quality.  Selling  seed  and  roots  for  planting  is  only 
incidental;  the  extremely  high  prices  are  likely  to  do 
the  business  more  harm  than  good.  To  obtain  best 
results  in  root  production  in  shortest  possible  time,  we 
think  the  seed  head  should  be  pinched  off  as  soon  as 


PRESENT   STATUS     OF  THE    INDUSTRY. 

plants  come  up  in  the  spring,  thus  throwing  growth  all 
into  the  roots.  This,  of  course  would  be  heroic  treat- 
ment with  seed  at  from  $50  to  $100  a  pound,  but  we 
think  it  will  come  into  general  practice  in  the  near 
future.  It  is  not  at  all  likely  that  the  present  high 
prices  of  seed  will  maintain  many  years,  and  it  is  not 
best  that  they  should.  Neither  is  it  likely  to  go  as  low 
again  as  in  the  pioneer  days  of  this  industry.  When 
the  price  gets  so  low  that  it  no  longer  pays  for  its 
production,  then  take  off  the  seed  heads  and  develop 
root  growth.  I  have  often  said  to  people  visiting  my 
grounds  that  the  seed  crop  was  a  silver  mine,  while 
at  the  bottom  of  the  plant  was  a  gold  mine.  Better 
develop  the  gold  mine,  as  that  is  destined  to  be  the  only 
true  standard  of  value. 

"Here  let  us  emphasize  the  value  of  starting  with 
good  stock.  We  consider  northern  stock  much  more 
desirable  than  southern ;  northern  ginseng  commands 
a  much  higher  price  in  the  market  than  the  southern. 
In  the  South  it  has  assumed  a  fixed  type  known  as 
'nubbin'  and  'peanut'  ginseng.  Northern  grown 
seed  is  much  larger  than  southern — some  southern 
growers  claim  thirteen  thousand  seeds  to  the  pound, 
while  best  grade  northern  seed  runs  about  eight  thou- 
sand to  the  pound.  It  stands  to  reason,  and  our  own 
experience  and  observation  bear  it  out,  that  large  seed 
will  produce  large,  strong  plants  from  the  start,  other 
conditions  being  favorable.  We  are  not  making  this 
statement  in  the  interest  of  any  particular  geographical 
or  local  section  but  in  the  general  interest  of  the 
business. 

"We  have  observed  a  peculiar  freak  of  ginseng 
seed  which  we  have  never  observed  in  any  other  kind 
of  seed,  and  that  is,  two  separate,  distinct  stems  from 
one  seed  and  only  one  root.  It  is  not  the  result  of 
'stooling  out'  or  after  development;  the  indication 
is  that  some  of  the  seeds  have  double  germs.  It  does 


LETTERS    FROM    GROWERS.  129 

not  follow  that  all  such  roots  will  continue  to  develop 
two  stems  in  after  years.  We  have  found  some  that 
had  a  germ  for  only  one  stem  the  second  season.  It 
is  quite  common  for  old  roots  to  develop  two  or  more 
stems.  We  have  known  a  single  root  to  send  up  six 
perfect  stems  in  one  season. 

''The  ginseng  plant  is  a  very  interesting  study 
and  is  always  developing  some  new  traits.  It  responds 
liberally  to  good  treatment,  will  stand  drouth  as  well 
as  ordinary  crops,  is  not  seriously  injured  by  ordinary 
frost,  but  hard  freezing  is  likely  to  kill  some  of  the 
plants  and  seriously  injure  the  seed  crop.  Do  not 
sprinkle  the  plants  when  frosted  as  it  would  likely 
injure  the  seed  crop;  at  least,  such  has  been  our 
experience  and  observation  at  the  Chinese  ginseng 
farm. 

"Ginseng  plants  are  liable  to  some  kind  of  disease 
the  cause  and  nature  of  which  we  have  as  yet  been 
unable  to  determine.  First  indications  are  wilting  and 
drooping  of  part  or  all  of  the  plant,  leaves  turning 
black  and  drying,  stalk  shrinking  and  withering  for  a 
few  inches  from  the  top  down  to,  and  sometimes  below 
the  surface  of  the  ground.  In  this  case  the  stalk  is 
generally  soft  and  degenerated,  the  disease  extending 
to  the  root,  which  sooner  or  later  is  likely  to  decay. 
We  have  not  been  able  to  determine  whether  the 
disease  first  commences  in  the  root  or  the  plant.  We 
know  that  the  plants  sometimes  prematurely  die  and 
leaves  drop  off  while  the  root  seems  to  be  sound  and 
healthy.  If  on  pulling  up  an  affected  plant  the  stalk 
readily  comes  up  with  a  portion  of  the  neck  showing 
disintegration,  with  strong  offensive  odor,  it  indicates 
root-rot.  But  if  the  stalk  parts  from  the  neck  with  a 
slight,  sharp  snap  and  has  a  white,  healthy  fresh 
appearance  at  the  juncture  of  the  neck,  it  indicates 
premature  ripening  and  the  root  may  be  all  right. 
Some  growers  advise  spraying  with  Bordeaux  mixture.  .<-' 


130  PRESENT   STATUS     OF   THE    INDUSTRY. 

Our  experience  in  this  line  has  been  too  limited  to  be 
of  much  value,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  the 
spraying  will  do  any  harm.  We  would  certainly 
recommend  trial.  It  should  be  done  .early  in  the 
season. 

''We  wish  to  reiterate  and  express  our  emphatic 
protest  against  the  bombast  and  exaggerated  state- 
ments scattered  over  the  country  during  the  past  three 
years  in  regard  to  the  wonderful  profits  in  ginseng 
culture.  Actual  results  are  strong  enough." 

MEDICINAL     PROPERTIES 

Since  many  readers  desire  to  know  the  standing 
given  to  ginseng  by  the  medical  profession  and  by  the 
Chinese  the  following  items  will  be  of  interest :  The 
St.  Louis  Post-Despatch,  of  October,  1901,  publishes 
the  following  information,  which  was  furnished  by 
Mrs.  Jeu  Hon  Yee,  the  only  Chinese  woman  in  St. 
Louis :  "Every  good  housewife  in  China  keeps 
ginseng  root  in  the  house.  It  costs  a  great  deal,  but 
it  is  used  in  small  quantities  and  an  ounce  of  it  lasts 
a  long  time.  Ginseng  tea  is  a  common  drink  in  China. 
Almost  everybody  drinks  it.  It  is  made  by  boiling  fine 
cuttings  of  ginseng  in  water.  The  tea  is  good  for  all 
sickness,  and  it  keeps  disease  away.  Some  of  the  rich 
people  flavor  their  meat  with  ginseng.  Only  the  rich 
can  afford  to  do  this  regularly.  The  root  gives  the 
meat  a  flavor  the  Chinese  people  like.  Everybody  in 
China  is  familiar  with  ginseng.  It  is  the  oldest  medi- 
cine we  have.  The  best  ginseng  grows  in  our  own 
woods,  and  the  next  best  comes  from  Korea.  Amer- 
ican ginseng  is  not  so  good  as  either  of  the  other 
kinds,  and  sells  cheaper.  I  do  not  believe  the  Chinese 
in  the  United  States  use  ginseng  very  much  after  they 
come  to  this  country.  We  do  not  use  it  in  our  own 
home  at  all,  though  we  were  accustomed  to  it  in 
China." 


MEDICINAL    PROPERTIES. 


131 


The  ensuing  paragraphs  are  quoted  from  Bulletin 
No.  1 6  of  the  Division  of  Botany  already  referred  to. 

"In  this  country  ginseng  is  considered  of  little 
medicinal  value.  The  root  is  mildly  aromatic  and 
slightly  stimulant.  The  Chinese  and  Koreans,  how- 
ever, place  a  high  value  on  it,  and,  indeed,  regard  it  as 
a  panacea.  Father  Jartoux,  while  making  a  map  of 
Tartary  under  the  orders  of  the  Emperor  of  China, 
spent  some  time  in  Manchuria,  where  the  most  valued 
ginseng  grows.  The  following  is  his  description  of 
the  uses  to  which  the  Chinese  put  this  root : 

"  They  affirm  that  it  is  a  sovereign  remedy  for  all 
weaknesses  occasioned  by  excessive  fatigues  either  of 
body  or  mind ;  that  it  dissolves  pituitous  humors ;  that 
it  cures  weakness  of  the  lungs  and  the  pleurisy;  that 
it  stops  vomitings ;  that  it  strengthens  the  stomach  and 
helps  the  appetite;  that  it  disperses  fumes  or  vapors; 
that  it  fortifies  the  breast,  and  is  a  remedy  for  short 
and  weak  breathing;  that  it  strengthens  the  vital 
spirits,  and  increases  lymph  in  the  blood ;  in  short,  that 
it  is  good  against  dizziness  of  the  head  and  dimness 
of  sight,  and  that  it  prolongs  life  in  old  age/ 

"Dr.  F.  P.  Smith,  a  medical  missionary  of  recent 
times,  makes  the  following  statement,  according  to 
the  Chinese  materia  medica:  'This  drug  is  prepared 
as  an  extract,  or  a  decoction,  in  silver  vessels  as  a  rule. 
Its  effects  are  apparently  those  of  an  alterative,  tonic, 
stimulant,  carminative,  and  demulcent  nature.  It  is 
prescribed  in  almost  every  description  of  disease  of  a 
severe  character,  with  few  exceptions,  but  with  many 
reservations  as  to  the  stage  of  the  disease  in  which 
it  may  be  administered  with  the  greatest  benefit  and 
safety.  All  forms  of  debility,  spermatorrhea,  the 
asthenic  hemorrhages,  the  various  forms  of  severe 
dyspepsia,  the  persistent  vomiting  of  pregnant  women, 
malarious  affections  of  a  chronic  character,  the  typhoid 
stages  of  fever,  especially  of  an  epidemic  character, 


132  PRESENT    STATUS    OF    THE   INDUSTRY. 

are  occasions  on  which  the  Chinese  resort  to  this  drug. 
Several  cases  in  which  life  would  seem  to  have  been 
at  least  prolonged  by  the  taking  of  doses  of  this  drug, 
so  as  to  allow  of  intelligent  disposition  of  property, 
indicate  that  some  positive  efficacy  of  a  sustaining 
character  does  really  exist  in  this  species  of  ivywort. 
The  leaves  are  sold  in  bundles  of  the  green,  fragrant, 
excellently  preserved  foliage  of  the  plant.  They  are 
said  to  be  emetic  and  expectorant  in  their  effects.' 

"In  Korea  the  cultivated  ginseng  is  smaller  than 
the  wild  or  'san-sam — literally  'mountain'  ginseng — 
the  root  of  which  attains  a  length  of  a  foot  or  more 
and  a  diameter  of  an  inch  and  upward.  It  is  said  that 
when  this  wild  root  is  administered  (always  at  a  single 
dose),  the  patient  loses  consciousness  for  a  greater  or 
less  time,  and  for  about  a  month  is  tortured  by  boils, 
eruptions,  sleeplessness,  and  other  ills.  Rejuvenation 
then  begins,  the  skin  becomes  clear,  the  body  healthy, 
and  the  person  will  live,  such  is  the  belief,  exempt  from 
disease  for  many  years.  They  think  it  acts  as  a  pre- 
ventive by  toning  up  the  system. 

"Mr.  George  C.  Foulk  remarks  in  Foreign  Rela- 
tions of  the  United  States,  1885 : 

"  'The  extreme  rarity  of  san-sam  augments  the 
superstitious  repute  in  which  it  is  held;  as  an  intelli- 
gent Korean  told  me,  much  is  said  that  is  only  words ; 
nevertheless,  he  maintained  that  san-sam  was  a  won- 
derful medicine  in  its  strengthening  effects.' 

"It  is  apparent  that  the  Chinese  faith  in  ginseng 
rests  largely  on  fanciful  grounds,  since  they  prefer 
roots  which,  in  a  measure,  resemble  the  human  form. 
A  rude  likeness  of  this  kind  is  frequently  discernible, 
which  is  said  to  be  increased  by  manipulation.  The 
name  itself  signifies  'man  plant.'  An  analogous  case 
is  that  of  the  mandrake  of  the  Mediterranean  region, 
long  esteemed  potent  for  a  similar  reason.  The  root 
appears  to  be  differently  employed  according  to  the 


MEDICINAL     PROPERTIES.  133 

source  from  which  it  is  obtained,  probably  somewhat 
on  real  and  somewhat  on  fictitious  grounds.  'The 
effects  of  the  Manchurian  and  Korean  ginseng  are 
apparently  those  of  an  alterative,  tonic,  stimulant,  and 
carminative  nature,  while  the  American  and  Japanese 
ginseng  are  used  as  demulcent  and  refrigerant 
agents/ 

"Mr.  Horace  N.  Allen,  minister  resident  and 
consul-general  at  Seoul,  Korea,  writes  in  United 
States  Consular  Reports,  No.  53 : 

"  'There  is  certainly  a  difference  in  the  effect  pro- 
duced by  the  use  of  these  two  roots  [the  American  and 
Korean].  The  American  ginseng  is  considered  by 
our  medical  authorities  to  be  "inert."  This  cannot  be 
said  of  the  Korean  root.  I  have  seen  the  latter  pro- 
duce suppuration  in  otherwise  healthy  wounds  when 
surreptitiously  given  to  hasten  the  slow  progress  of 
healing.  When  the  cause  was  discovered  and  removed 
the  wounds  gradually  came  into  proper  condition 
again.  .  .  . 

:( 'Quinine  has  been  shown  to  be  so  much  more 
efficacious  in  the  treatment  of  the  frequent  malarial 
fevers  of  these  countries  that  ginseng  has  lost  some 
of  its  popularity  in  these  cases;  but  whenever  a  tonic 
or  a  "heating  medicine"  is  needed,  ginseng  continues 
to  be  resorted  to,  and,  by  combination  with  quinine,  its 
reputation  will  be  enhanced  rather  than  diminished/ 

"The  use  of  ginseng  in  different  parts  of  the 
empire  seems  to  vary  considerably.  The  following 
statement  is  made  on  this  point : 

'  'In  the  North  it  is  rarely  taken  except  in  cases  of 
actual  sickness,  as  the  soil  and  climate  are  dry  and 
cool,  and  there  is  comparatively  little  malaria.  A  few 
of  the  wealthy  people  occasionally  take  an  infusion  as 
a  precautionary  measure  during  the  winter.  .  .  . 
It  is  sai  1  to  be  more  extensively  used  by  Chinese  in 
the  Sout'.i,  owing  to  the  heat  and  moisture  of  their  soil 


134  PRESENT    STATUS    OF  THE    INDUSTRY. 

and  climate,  being  infused  with  most  of  their  drinks 
and  taken  even  with  some  of  their  solid  food  as  a  pre- 
cautionary measure  against  sickness.' 

''There  are  stated  to  be  three  ways  of  taking 
ginseng,  viz.,  as  pills,  confection,  and  infusion.  Its 
medicinal  value  is  thought  to  be  diminished  by  a 
steaming  process  to  which  it  is  frequently  subjected 
for  the  improvement  of  its  color.  It  appears  to  be 
given  the  character  of  a  confection  by  steeping  in 
honey  or  by  the  use  of  sugar.  The  wild  ginseng  of 
Manchuria  is  the  most  .highly  esteemed,  now  repre- 
sented, according  to  Dr.  Smith,  by  that  coming  from 
Shingking.  This  is  and  has  long  been  an  imperial 
monopoly. 

"A  recent  consular  authority,  Mr.  I.  F.  Shephard, 
presents  a  classification,  the  first  grade  in  which  is 
named  and  described  as  follows :  '  "Imperial  ginseng," 
so  called  because  it  is  raised  or  gathered  under  imperial 
protection  in  the  parks  or  hunting  grounds,  where  it 
is  kept  free  from  the  profanation  of  the  vulgar  herd. 
This  variety  ranges  from  $40  to  $200  per  pound,  and 
is  largely  taken  up  by  the  wealthy  classes  in  Peking 
and  vicinity,  as  far  as  I  can  learn.  It  is  fine  in  its 
appearance,  quite  in  the  desired  form,  and  of  course 
very  scarce  in  trade. 

"  'Although  only  an  imaginary  line  divides  the 
Korean  peninsula  from  Manchuria,  the  ginseng  grown 
in  the  former  place  seems  to  take  rank  after  the  Man- 
churian  article.  It  is  said  to  possess  about  the  same 
qualities  as  the  Manchurian,  and  the  supposed  differ- 
ences are  probably  fanciful.  Being  much  cheaper  it 
is  more  extensively  used.  The  price  paid  for  it  ranges 
from  $15  to  $35  a  pound. 

"  'Cultivated  ginseng  in  Korea  is  a  common  mar- 
ketable article,  and  is  produced  in  large  quantities.  As 
in  the  case  of  the  Manchurian  article,  its  sale  has  long 
been  a  government  monopoly,  the  funds  derived  from 


MEDICINAL     PROPERTIES.  135 

it  belonging  to  the  king.  But  in  spite  of  the  death 
penalty  for  its  private  disposal  large  quantities  are 
smuggled  across  the  Yellow  Sea  in  junks  from  the 
western  coast  of  the  peninsula  to  the  mainland,  and 
also  across  the  northwestern  borders  into  China,  where 
it  always  commands  a  ready  market  and  good  price/ 
'  "According  to  the  authority  last  cited,  'the  third 
grade,  called  native  ginseng,  is  grown  in  China  near 
the  borders  of  Korea.  This  is  mostly  used  to  adulter- 
ate the  Korean  article,  and  is  valued  at  from  $i  to  $10 
per  pound.'  To  this  may  correspond  in  some  meas- 
ure a  native  product  noted  by  Dr.  Smith,  consisting 
of  the  roots  of  species  of  Campanula  and  Adenophora, 
used  as  a  substitute  for  ginseng  and  called  by  its 
name. 

"Regarding  further  grades,  the  above  consular 
authority  says: 

:<  'American  ginseng  is  generally  regarded  as  next 
in  classification,  but  from  all  I  can  learn  of  it  I  think 
it  belongs  rather  to  the  third  class,  and  the  last  as 
fourth.  When  crude  it  averages  about  $2  per  pound; 
when  clarified,  from  $4  to  $6,  and  when  reclarified, 
from  $6  to  $8  per  pound.  What  the  clarifying  may 
be  I  have  no  absolute  information.  Some  maintain  it 
is  only  washing  and  clearing  the  roots  from  earth  and 
fibers,  and  some  that  it  is  a  process  of  steeping  with 
honey,  which  is  only  done  with  the  best  selected 
specimens.' 

"As  stated  by  the  same  writer,  The  last  and 
poorest  quality  is  the  Japanese  ginseng,  which,  like 
the  native  product,  is  used  for  the  adulteration  of  the 
Korean  supply  and  other  better  grades.'  Its  value  is 
correspondent  to  that  of  the  native  article,  i.  e.,  $i  to 
$10  per  pound.  According  to  Dr.  Smith,  the  Japan- 
ese ginseng  is  often  adulterated  with  the  roots  of 
Campanula  glauca  and  other  plants." 

Of  special  interest  to  American  ginseng  growers. 


136  PRESENT   STATUS    OF   THE   INDUSTRY. 

at  this  time,  will  be  the  statement  that  a  preparation 
of  ginseng  is  now  being  placed  upon  the  American 
market,  and  is  receiving  the  attention  and  endorse- 
ment of  many  reputable  physicians  who  have  used  it 
with  success  in  their  practice.  It  appears  to  act  purely 

(as  a  secernent  to  the  secretory  glands  of  the  alimentary 
canal,  thereby  materially  assisting  the  proper  assimila- 
tion of  food.  In  cases  characterized  by  a  lack  of 
functional  activity  in  the  digestive  tract,  as  well  as  in 
general  malnutrition,  its  use  has  been  highly  recom- 
mended. 

PROTECTION     BY     EAW 

As  mentioned  on  Page  13  there  are  laws  pro- 
tecting ginseng  during  certain  seasons  of  the  year. 
Since  these  will  be  of  interest  to  the  grower,  especially 
in  the  States  where  these  laws  are  in  operation,  they 
are  quoted  together  with  the  remarks  therein  con- 
tained in  Bulletin  16.  The  reduction  of  our  forest 
areas  and  the  pasturing  of  those  which  remain  con- 
tribute seriously  to  the  failure  of  the  wild  crop.  The 
importance  of  ginseng  is  hardly  sufficient  to  have 
much  bearing  on  the  forest  question;  but,  so  far  as 
our  forests  shall  be  preserved  for  other  reasons,  there 
are  two  lines  along  which  the  law  may  act  toward  the 
preservation  of  the  ginseng  supply.  The  first  of  these 
lies  in  the  direction  of  limiting  the  time  of  digging  the 
root.  The  close  season  should  extend  at  least  from 
the  time  the  plant  starts  in  the  spring  until  the  seed 
is  fully  ripe  in  the  fall ;  for,  as  we  have  already  seen, 
ginseng  has  no  means  of  reproduction  except  its  seed, 
while  at  the  same  time  the  root  is  not  in  good  condition 
during  the  growing  period.  It  might  be  wise  to  make 
the  open  season  still  shorter  than  this  would  imply,  in 
order  still  further  to  reduce  the  collection.  The  ques- 
tion may  be  raised,  also,  whether  the  destruction  of 
undergrown  roots  might  not  be  prohibited,  as  in  the 


PROTECTION   BY   LAW. 


137 


138  PRESENT   STATUS    OF   THE  INDUSTRY. 

case  of  small  trout  and  lobsters  in  some  states.  If  this 
provision  were  somewhat  difficult  to  enforce,  it  would 
at  least  call  attention  to  the  wastefulness  of  killing  the 
young  plant. 

The  State  of  Virginia  already  has  a  law  limiting 
the  time  of  collecting,  of  which  the  text  is  as  follows  :* 

AN  ACT  for  the  protection  of  ginseng  in  the 
counties  of  the  State. 

SEC.  i.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  general  assembly  of 
Virginia,  If  any  person  shall  dig  any  ginseng  from  the 
1 5th  day  of  March  till  the  I5th  day  of  September,  such 
person,  on  conviction  before  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
shall  be  fined  not  less  than  five  nor  more  than  ten 
dollars  and  costs  for  each  offense. 

SEC.  2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  That  on  the  con- 
viction of  anyone  of  such  offense  the  informant  shall 
be  entitled  to  one-half  the  fine,  the  remaining  half 
going  to  the  Commonwealth. 

SEC.  3.  This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  its 
passage. 

In  the  same  line,  but  more  stringent,  is  a  law 
passed  by  the  legislature  of  Ontario,  Canada,  in 
1891 :t 

SEC.  i.  Except  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  or 
bringing  land  into  cultivation,  no  person  shall,  between 
the  first  day  of  January  and  the  first  day  of  September 
in  any  year,  cut,  root  up,  gather,  or  destroy  the  plant 
known  by  the  name  of  ginseng  whenever  such  plant 
may  be  found  growing  in  a  wild  or  uncultivated 
state. 

SEC.  2.  Any  person  who  contravenes  the  pro- 
vision of  this  act  shall,  for  every  such  offense,  upon 
summary  conviction  before  any  justice  of  the  peace, 
be  subject  to  a  penalty  of  not  less  than  five  dollars  or 
more  than  twenty  dollars,  together  with  costs  for 

*Acts  and  Joint  Resolutions  of  Virginia,  1875-76,  Chapter  go. 
tStatutes  of  the  Province  of  Ontario,  1891,  Chapter  52. 


PROTECTION   BY  LAW. 

prosecution,  and  one-half  of  the  penalty  shall  be  .paid 
to  the  prosecutor,  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  said 
justice  convicting. 

On  May  27,  1893,  the  following  amendment  to 
the  above  law  was  passed  :* 

AN  ACT  to  further  provide  against  the  extermina- 
tion of  the  plant  called  ginseng. 

SEC.  i.  Proof  of  the  purchase  or  sale  of  ginseng 
between  the  first  day  of  January  and  the  first  day  of 
September  in  any  year  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence  of 
a  contravention  of  this  act. 

SEC.  2.  Any  person  who  purchases  ginseng, 
knowing  the  same  to  have  been  cut,  rooted  up,  or 
gathered  between  the  first  day  of  January  and  the  first 
day  of  September,  shall  be  guilty  of  a  contravention 
of  this  act. 

SEC.  3.  In  any  prosecution  under  the  preceding 
section  proof  that  the  ginseng  purchased  has  been 
illegally  obtained  by  the  vendor  shall  be  prima  facie 
evidence  of  a  contravention  of  this  act  by  the 
purchaser. 

SEC.  4.  This  act  shall  be  read  as  part  of  the  act 
to  prevent  the  extermination  of  the  plant  called 
ginseng. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  the  season 
in  Virginia  opens  half  a  month  later  than  in  Ontario, 
which  is  right  in  view  of  the  difference  of  latitude. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  open  season  is  six  months  long 
in  Virginia,  while  in  Ontario  it  is  but  four  months 
long,  and  the  digging  must  practically  cease  with  the 
fall  of  snow.  Considering  the  comparative  mildness 
of  the  Virginia  winter,  a  six  months'  close  seems 
rather  short. 

A  second  method  of  securing  protection  consists 
in  defending  the  rights  of  individual  landowners ;  that 

*Statutes  of  the  Province  of  Ontario,  1893,  Chapter  43. 


140  PRESENT    STATUS    OF   THE    INDUSTRY. 

is,  by  prohibiting  digging  on  any  land  but  one's  own. 
The  legislature  of  West  Virginia  has  enacted  a  law  of 
this  purport.  It  covers  the  case  of  other  medicinal 
roots  as  well  as  ginseng.  The  text  is  as  follows  :* 

SEC.  i.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person  to 
dig  ginseng  or  other  medicinal  roots,  or  prospect  for 
the  same,  on  the  land  of  another,  in  the  counties  of 
Pocahontas,  Greenbrier,  and  Webster,  without  the 
consent  of  the  owner  or  owners  thereof  first  had  and 
obtained. 

SEC.  2.  The  provisions  of  this  act  shall  extend  to 
all  the  counties  of  the  State:  Provided,  That  the 
county  court  of  any  county  may,  upon  the  petition  of 
one  hundred  voters  of  the  county,  direct  to  have  the 
same  enforced  in  their  said  county  or  any  district  or 
districts  thereof. 

SEC.  3.  Any  person  violating  this  act  shall  be 
deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction 
thereof  shall  be  fined  not  more  than  fifty  dollars,  and 
be  confined  in  the  county  jail  not  exceeding  two 
months. 

SEC.  4.  This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after 
the  passage  thereof. 

While  a  law  of  this  kind  does  not  prevent  a  man 
from  exterminating  ginseng  on  his  own  land,  it  may 
be  assumed  that,  where  the  crop  is  valued,  every 
individual  will  be  prudent  enough  to  husband  his  own 
resources.  A  wanton  destruction  is  most  likely  to 
take  place  on  land  which  is  practically  public,  where 
no  one  is  sure  of  anything  but  what  he  seizes  at  once. 
Nevertheless,  in  a  State  having  large  areas  of  moun- 
tainous and  thinly  settled  territory  landowners  in 
many  cases  either  could  not  or  would  not  care  to  secure 
the  enforcement  of  the  law ;  at  any  rate,  would  do  no 
more  than  secure  payment  for  the  right  of  digging, 
and  some  further  provision  would  be  required.  A 

*Acts  of  West  Virginia,  nth  session  (1872-73) ,  Chapter  158. 


PROTECTION   BY   LAW.  141 


suitable  close  season  might  be  established  to  affect  at 
least  the  lands  not  guarded  by  their  owners. 

Ginseng  under  cultivation  would  naturally  enjoy 
the  same  protection  as  any  other  planted  crop.  Since 
plantations  would  generally  be  made  in  woodlands, 
some  special  provision  may  be  needed,  particularly 
where  the  digging  of  the  wild  plant  on  the  lands  of 
others  is  not  forbidden.  The  owner  of  the  plantation 
might  be  required  to  post  a  prohibitory  notice. 

Other  States  than  those  mentioned  do  not  appear 
to  have  legislated  in  behalf  of  ginseng. 


INDEX. 


Advancing  price   47 

Advantages   of   growing  ginseng 50 

Advice    to    would-be    growers 50 

Age  and  seed   bearing 73 

Age  and  size 116,  127 

Age    and    quality 127 

Age    and   weight 73,    110 

Aged  specimens  10 

American    ginseng,    demand    for 105 

American    ginseng    discovered 3 

American    ginseng    in     Asia 96,     105 

American    ginseng    trade     started 3 

Annual    development    of    the    plant — 8 

Annual    growth    of    roots 12 

Annual    setting    of    seed 18 

Appearance   of   plants 6,    7,    9 

Appearance    of    seedlings    5 

Apple    trees,    beds    under 25 

Artificial  propagation 30,  65,  121 

Ashes 33,    115,    116,    117 

Attacks   of  mice 27 

Autumn  transplanting 15,   59 

Beds,    level 20 

Beds,     orchard 23 

Beds,   preparation   of  permanent 

50,   61,   117,    118,    124 

Beds,  treatment  of 30 

Beds  under  apple  trees   25 

Beds    under    cherry    trees    25 

Beds  unnecessary  21 

Beginning    14 

Berries   9 

Berries    fail    to    set 56 

Berries   first   ripe    57 

Berries,   gathering  57 

Best  season  to  dig 14 

Blossoms,    pinching 57,    127 

Blossoms,     sterile 55 

Bordeaux  mixture  68,  69,  129 

Boring  beetles    45 

Botany    of    the    plant    5,    14 

Broken   roots    95 

Brush    covering    28,    117,    123 

Bud  at  the  root  crown 16 

Burning    of    Korean    ginseng 104 

Canadian   ginseng   77 

Capacity  of  dryer   43 

Carbon    bisulphide 46 

Cattle  and  sheep 31 

Bellar  storage  and   seed 17 
hange    of    soil 61,    125 

Cherry  trees,   beds   under   25 

Chickens,    in   beds    37 

Chinese    ginseng,    cultivated 109 

Clarification   75 

Clarified  root   in  market O 

Cleaning i2 


Cleanliness  of  package  oi  roots 46,  74 

Climate    18 

Climate,    change    of 57 

Collectors'    profits   decreasing 48 

Consul  Allen's   letter 95,    104 

Consul   Allen  quoted 133 

Consul    Ragsdale's    letter    105 

Consul    Rublee's    letter 99 

Consul     Wildman's     letter 94,     96 

Covers     62 

Crash    of    prices    86 

Cricket,   ginseng    67 

Crosley's  letter,    Messrs 110 

Crown    roots,     new 10 

Cultivated   root   in   China 101 

Cultivated   root   in   the    market 71 

Cultivated   vs.   wild   root 

70,  72,  73,  79,  85,  121 

Cultivation     28 

Dealers  in   Asia 99,     102 

Dealers'    prices    47 

Demand    50 

Demand  and  supply 81,  82.  84,  85 

Depth    of    planting    117 

Destroying    beetles    46 

Destruction  of   Korean  ginseng 104 

Development,    annual 8 

Dibble    64,    117 

Digger    .' 60 

Digging  41,  42 

Digging     wild     plants 16 

Discovery  of  American  ginseng 3 

Diseases   67,   126,   129 

Distance  between  plants... 30,  62,  115,  123 

Distance    to    plant    seed 27 

Divisible     root     12 

Drainage     20,    61,    125 

Dryer,    capacity    of 43 

Dryer,    cost    of    43 

Dryer,     homemade     42,     43 

Dryer,    operating    44 

Drying    42 

Drying,     loss    of    weight    in 72,    110 

Drying    of    seed    in    summer 17 

Duties  on  ginseng 95 

Early     maturing     variety. 39 

Early  trade   ruined 5 

Eisenhauer's    letter 81 

Enemies    36,   66 

Enriching    the    soil 65 

Estimates    87,    91,    92,    93 

Exaggeration    90 

Export    decreasing 47 

Export    dii  ect 97 

Export  from  Canada 77 

Exports   statistics    47,   79 

Exposures    19 


142 


INDEX. 


143 


Page 
Flavor  of  cultivated  root.. 73,  79,  80,   81 

Flowers,    pinching 57,    127 

Flowers,   sterile   55 

Fly.    white    67 

Foulk,  George  C.,  quoted 106,  132 

Fraser's     letter,     Mr 116 

Freezing,    danger    of 15 

Freezing   of    seeds 17 

Freezing   of   stored    roots 15 

Fruit    fails    to    set 15 

Germination  first  spring 59,  69,  123 

Ginseng,   advantages  of  growing 50 

Ginseng,    American    discovered 3 

Ginseng,  American  trade  started 3 

Ginseng  digger 60 

Ginseng     in     Canada 77 

Ginseng,     reproduction 12 

Ginseng,    uses    of 2 

Grading  for  market 

46,  97,  98,  101,   102,   105,   106,   127,  134 

Ground   bone 32 

Growers,    organization   of 71 

Hardiness 129 

Hard     pan 125 

Hart's     letter,     Mr 110 

Hartzel    &   Co.'s   clarifying   method... 75 

History   1,    5 

Hong   Kong  distributing   center 100 

Hoe   for   digging 60 

Horse    for    weeding 26 

Humus    61,   114,   116,   125 

Humus,    decay    of 66 

lida's  letter   103 

Improvement  of  stock 37 

Industry,    promising 50 

Influence  of  "sang-diggers" 13 

Injured     roots 29 

Inspection    in    market 97,    98 

Insects    36 

Japanese  ginseng.... 83,  87,  88,  89,  106,  135 

Kelsey's  lath  shade 62 

Kelsey's    planting    board 63 

Kirin    ginseng 105 

Korean  crop,  1901 104 

Korean   cultivated   ginseng 107 

Korean  ginseng 96,   101 

Korean    ginseng     market 102 

Korean  root  in  Hong  Kong.. 101,  103.  105 

Large    seed,    quick  .ge:minating 39 

Leaf   mulch    28 

Level   beds    20 

Lime  for  slugs    66 

Location    18 

Male   flowers    55 

Manchurian    ginseng     134 

Manure,    avoid    fresh 32 

Manuring    32,    65,    113,    117 

Marker    for   setting   seed 37,    63 

Market     74,    81,     97 

Market,    overstocked 83,   85 

Market    requirements    102 

Maturity Ill,  116 

Mice    17,    36,    66,    67,    124 

Misrepresentation     90 

Moisture-holding   power    of    soil 20 

Moles    ..: 36,    37,    66 

Muck     61 

Mulch,  leaf  28 

Mulches    32 

Mulch,   muck    

Mutilated     roots     41 

Natural  home  14 

Nematodes    66,    126 

Nitrate  of  soda  66,  117 

Nitrogenous    fertilizer    


Northern  exposures  best   19 

Northern  vs.   southern  stock 57,  58 

Nub    95 

Nub  in  ginseng 128 

Nusbaum's  letter,  Mr 113 

Open   ground   storage   of   seed 17 

Orchard   beds    23 

Organization    71 

Oven    drying    42 

Packing 95,    97,    102 

Parent's    letter,    Mr    Ill 

Payson's   letter,    Mr 121 

Peanut  ginseng   128 

Phosphates    32 

Pike's   letter,    Mr 109 

Pistillate    flowers 55 

Planting  board  27,  63,  115,  117 

Plants,    annual   development 8 

Potash    32 

Preparation  for  market 41 

Preparation   of   beds 21,   25 

Preparation   of  permanent  beds 25 

Prices    advancing 47 

Prices   and  seed   73,  87,   92,   120 

Prices,    fall    of 86,    93 

Prices  for  series  of  years. 47,  79,  80,  81,  82 

Prices    in    Asia    94,    95 

Prices   of   1898 43 

Prices  of  1891   79,  80,  81,  82 

Prices    paid    by    leaders 47 

Profits    46,   87 

Propagation,    artificial 30,    65,    121 

Protection    of    beds    120,    136 

Purchaser    must    see    goods 97 

Quality     127 

Raised    beds    23 

Root   decay    36 

Root,    divisible 12 

Roots,    annual   growth    of 12 

Roots,   broken 95 

Roots,    cleaning    42 

Roots,  first  class  40 

Roots,    four   years    old 12 

Roots,   freezing  of  stored 15 

Roots     from     cuttings 13 

Roots,     keeping    dried 46 

Roots,    kind    preferred 41 

Roots,   new  crown 10 

Roots,    old     10 

Roots,  storing  dry 45 

Roots,   trimming  dry 44 

Roots,    undersized 41 

Root  vs.  seed 127 

Rotation   of  crops 61,   125 

Rotting  of  seed 18 

Samples    94,    97 

Sample    shipment    97 

Seed  and  high  prices 73 

Seed,   annual  setting 18 

Seed-bearing    and    age 73 

Seed   beds   21 

Seed,    danger    of    drying   of 16 

Seeding,    annual 18 

Seedlings,    appearance   of 5 

Seedlings,  time  of  appearance 5 

Seed  planting   28 

Seed   ripens    116 

Seed,   storage  in   cellar 17 

Seed  stratifying 17,  59 

Seed  vs.   roots   127 

Seed,  yield  of 91,  110,   123,  125 

Selection  for  improvement 69,   70 

Shade   and    soil 61 

Shade,    climbing   perennial 33 

Shade,  forest   33 


144 


INDEX. 


Page 

Shade,    lath    34,    62,    107,    113,    118 

Shade,    low   lath 36 

Shade,    planting   annual 23 

Shades    33 

Shade,    storing   lath 35 

Shade,   vertical    36 

Shipment,   direct   97 

Shipments  not  uniform.. 98 

Shipping  46 

Sifting    seed 18 

Size  and  age 116,  127 

Size  of  nursery  bed 23 

Sloping  beds 20 

Slugs   66 

Smith  quoted,   Dr.... 131 

Smuggling    96 

Snails    36,    66 

Soil 19,  21,  59,  60,  113,  116,  125 

Soil  and  shade   61 

Soil,    avoid    poor-  33 

Soil,   change  of 25,   61 

Southern   plants   in   the    North 

57,  58,  123,  128 

Southern    exposures    poorest 19 

Sowing  at  once 16 

Space   needed   for  ounce   of   seed 23 

Spade  for  digging 16 

Speyer  &  Sons'  prices 81 

Spraying  68,  129 

Spring-set  plants 16,    118 

Sprouting    first    spring 59,     69,     123 

Staminate  flowers   55 

Stanton's    letter,    Mr 49,    125 

Statistics  of  export 47 

Storing     15 

Storing  the  seed 17 

Stove  drying    42 

Stratifying  seed 59,    123 


Succession     of    crops 61,     125 

Sun     drying 42 

Superstitions    42 

Supply  and  demand 81,  82,  84,  85 

Texture  of  soil  for  older  plants 26 

Thieves    31,   67 

Three-year-old    root 11 

Time   not   to   dig 13 

Time     plants    appear 5 

Time    seedlings    appear 28 

Time     to     dig 14 

Time    to     mature 30 

Time    to    transplant 15 

Trade    started    in    American    ginseng.. 3 

Transplanting     63 

Transplanting,    time   for 15 

Treatment  for  permanent  beds 30 

Tree    roots 23 

Trimming   roots 29 

Trowel  for   digging 16 

Trowel  for   setting 30 

Undersized  roots   .- 41 

Uses  of  ginseng 2 

Variety,     new 70 

Walks,  width  of 25 

Wallace    Bros.'    prices 80 

Washing     42 

Water    test    59 

Weeding   26,  29 

Weeding   horse 26 

Weight  after  drying 72,    110 

Weight   and    age 73,    110 

Wells   &    Co.'s   letter 82 

Width   of   beds    23 

Wild  root  vs.   cultivated.. 40,   79,   85,   121 

Wild   supply  declining , 78 

Wilting    .  129 

Wood    ashes     33 


ADVERTISEMENTS. 

HEADQUARTERS    QINSENG 

Samuel  Wells  &  Co. 

Exporters 

Cincinnati,  Highest  Market  Prices 

Prompt  Returns 


Ginseng 


We  are  very  extensive  buyers  of  this  article,  and 
parties  who  send  us  their  root  may  be  assured  of  receiving 
its  full  market  value  and  a  prompt  remittance. 

Write  us  for  price  list. 


BELT,  BUTLER  CO. 

83  Spring  St.,  NEW  YORK 


B 


OOKS 


Farm      Fruits 

Garden    Flowers     Dogs 

Cattle        Swine 


<$        Sheep  Horses 

fa  Pet-Stock 

J$     Boating    Fishing    Bees 


.         A 

Shooting      Architecture 


Free  Catalogue  of  the  largest  line  of  Rural  Books  in  the 
country  to  all  applying 

Orange  Judd  Company 


ADVERTISEMENTS. 


Q 
I 

N 
5 
E 
N 
Q 

Root 


Wm. 

Eisenhauer 

&  Co. 

378-380  West  Broadway,  New  York 


Buyers 
and  Exporters  of 


GINSENG 


Highest  prices  paid  for  Ginseng  from 
all  sections  at  all  times 


Returns  sent  immediately  and  payment 

made  by  check,  money-order, 
or  in  any  other  way  you  may  prefer 

Write  for  Prices 


Correspondence  and  shipments 
solicited 


References  Furnished 


ADVERTISEMENTS. 

Headquarters  in  America  for 

Ginseng  Seeds  and  Plants 

and  at  fair  prices 

An  illustrated  circular  giving  concise  instructions  for  successfully  cul- 
tivating this  valuable  root  for  10  cents. 

PRICE  LIST  FREE 

Parties  who  contemplate  Ginseng  culture  on  an  extensive  scale  will  do  well 
to  correspond  with  us  before  placing  an  order.  \Ve  give  special  terms  and 
detailed  advice.  It  pays  us  to  make  our  customers  successful  growers.  We 
have  eighteen  years'  experience  in  growing  all  kinds  of  Hardy  Native  Plants. 
(A  unique  descriptive  catalogue  of  American  Native  Plants  filled  with  original 
half  tone  illustrations  free,  if  you  are  interested.)  Remember  we  are  Ginseng 
specialists. 

Address 

HARLAN  P.  KELSEY 

Tremont  Building,  Boston,  Mass. 

Proprietor  Highlands  Nursery,  3800  feet  elevation  in  the  Carolina  mountains. 
6j  acres. 

The  Great  Agricultural 
Weeklies 

American  Agriculturist,    52LafayettepS^1York 

For  the  Middle  States,  Ohio  and  the  South. 

New  England   Homestead,      SpringfleldMass. 

For  the  Eastern  States. 


Orange  Judd  Farmer,    M^«C«C  BulISl1n&g0t  HI. 

For  the  Western,  Central,  South-Western  and  Pacific  States. 

Cover  every  feature  of  rural  economy,  best  market  reports,  valuable  house- 
hold and  family  departments. 

Send  fer  specimen  copies  of  the  one  for  your  section. 

Subscription  Price    $1.00    per  year,  postpaid 

Liberal  premium  offers. 

ORANGE  JUDD  COHPANY,  Publishers 

New  York  Chicago  Springfield,  Mass. 


LOAN  PERIOD  1 
Home  Use 

en 

O) 

GO 

RETUR 


oo 


of  O 

£z 

w  O 
m 
-o 


m 

z 


YB  47482 


, 


0170.5" 


i 


